The Fiddler’s Companion

© 1996-2010 Andrew Kuntz

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OI – OLD GREY

 

 

Notation Note: The tunes below are recorded in what is called “abc notation.” They can easily be converted to standard musical notation via highlighting with your cursor starting at “X:1” through to the end of the abc’s, then “cutting-and-pasting” the highlighted notation into one of the many abc conversion programs available, or at concertina.net’s incredibly handy “ABC Convert-A-Matic” at

http://www.concertina.net/tunes_convert.html 

 

**Please note that the abc’s in the Fiddler’s Companion work fine in most abc conversion programs. For example, I use abc2win and abcNavigator 2 with no problems whatsoever with direct cut-and-pasting. However, due to an anomaly of the html, pasting the abc’s into the concertina.net converter results in double-spacing. For concertina.net’s conversion program to work you must remove the spaces between all the lines of abc notation after pasting, so that they are single-spaced, with no intervening blank lines. This being done, the F/C abc’s will convert to standard notation nicely. Or, get a copy of abcNavigator 2 – its well worth it.   [AK]

 

 

 

OÍCHE NOLLAG (Christmas Eve). AKA and see “Christmas Eve,” "The Strawberry Blossom [2]," "There's nae luck aboot the hoose (there’s nae luck ava) [1]." Irish, Single Jig. D Major. Standard tuning. AAB. Breathnach (1963) thinks the tune originated outside of Ireland and points out it is almost identical to the Scots “There’s nae luck about the house.”  Petrie prints a version of the melody as “The Strawberry Blossom,” and the ‘A’ part of “Christmas Eve” is the same as his “Mill Steam” and “Ghile Beag le m'Anam Thú," as well as the untitled airs No. 154 and No. 258. Joyce prints the ‘B’ part in his tune “Irish Minuet.” See also the related reels “Boys of Ballinahinch” and “Strawberry Blossom.” Source for notated version: piper Joseph Walsh/Seosamh Breathnach (Ireland) [Breathnach]. Breathnach (CRÉ I), 1963; No. 60, pg. 26.

X:1

T:Oíche Nollag

T:Christmas Eve

M:6/8

L:1/8

R:Single Jig

K:D Major

|: g | f2A d2f | e2d B2g | f2A d2f |{a}g3 a2g| f2A d2f | e2d B2c |

d2A B2G | E2F D2 :|: f/2g/2 | a2b a2f | d3‑d2f | g2f e2d |

B3 A2 f/2g/2 | a2b a2f | d2f g2f | e2d c2e | a3‑a2 :||

           

OIDCE AG AN AONAC. AKA and see "(A) Night at the Fair."

           

OIDCE DO RINNEAMAR AN CLEAMNAS, AN. AKA and see "The Night We Made the Match."

           

OIDCE MAIT CUGAT. AKA and see "Good Night."

           

OIDHCHE A BHA BHAINIS ANN, AN (The Night the Wedding Was). AKA and see "The Lea Rig(ges)."

           

OIDHCHE BHA NA GABHAIR AGAINN, AN (The Night We Had the Goats). AKA – “The Night the Goats Came Home.” Scottish, Canadian; Reel. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Shears says his is but one of several settings of this tune found on Cape Breton. Shears (Gathering of the Clans Collection, vol. 1), 1986; pg. 48 (pipe setting). Stewart-Robertson (The Athole Collection), 1884; pg. 16_. Green Linnet GLCD1215, John Williams – “Steam” (1991). Greentrax CD TRAX180, Natalie MacMaster – “In My Hands.” Rounder 7048, Natalie MacMaster – “Live” (2002). Smithsonian Folkways Records, SFW CD 40507, The Beaton Family of Mabou – “Cape Breton Fiddle and Piano Music” (2004. Appears as “The Night the Goats Came Home”). Temple COMD2045, Battlefield Band – “New Spring” (1991). Brenda Stubbert – “Some Tasty Tunes.” Alex Francis MacKay – “A Lifelong Home.” Dave MacIsaac – “Nimble Fingers.”

X:1

T:An oidhche bha na gabhair againn

T:The Night We Had the Goats

M:C|

L:1/8

R:Reel

B:The Athole Collection (1884)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

e|d>G G/G/G dBBd|e/e/e g2 dBBe|dG G/G/G dBBd|egdB A2A:|

|:g|e/e/e g2 dBBd|e/e/e g2 dB g2|b/a/g/f/ g2 dBBd|egdB A2A:|

           

OIFIG NUA AN PHOIST.  AKA and see “The New Post Office.”

 

OIL CITY QUICKSTEP [1], THE. AKA and see "The Beggar's March," "Op'ry Star." American, March or Reel. USA, southwestern Pa. G Major. Standard tuning. One part. Bayard (1981) states he has not heard the tune outside of Pennsylvania. Sources for notated versions: John Nicholson (fiddler from Fayette County, Pa., 1949), Fred Miller & Glenn Gelnette (fiddler from Jefferson County, Pa., 1949), Frank Blair (fiddler from Jefferson County, Pa, 1952), Harry Queer (fiddler from Westmoreland County, Pa., 1957) [Bayard]. Bayard (Dance to the Fiddle), 1981; No. 180A‑D, pgs. 135‑137.

 

OIL CITY QUICKSTEP [2], THE. AKA and see "The Drunken Hiccoughs [2]."

           

OIL OF BARLEY. AKA and see "Stingo," "Cold andRaw," “Juice of Barley [1],” and "Lulle Me Beyond Thee." English, Air. A Minor. Standard tuning. AABB. “Oil of Barley,” or “Stingo,” first appears in John Playford’s first edition of the English Dancing Master (1651), although by the 1695 edition (published by son Henry Playford) it appeared as “Juice of Barley.” Thoms D’Urfey employed the melody as a vehicle for his song “Cold and Raw, the North did blow.” ‘Oil of barley’ is a euphemism for strong beer (as is the related term ‘barley broth’). Bruce Olson finds the following ballad stanzas; the first, from the chorus of Laurence Price's "Good Ale for my Money" (directed to be sung to “The Country Lass”) goes:
***
I cannot go home, or I will I not go home,
it's long of the oyle of Barly;
Ile tarry all night for my delight,
and go home in the morning early.

***
The second is contained in a song called "Johnny & Molly's Garland" in a Scottish manuscript dating to the 1740's, wherein the 11th verse goes:
***
I cannot go home I will not go home
till I taste of the oyl of the barley
I'll tarry all night with my hearts delight
and go home in the morning early.

***

The term (meaning ‘beer’) was still in use at least until the mid-19th century, for it appears in George W. Matsell’s 1859 book The Secret Language of Crime. The author was a former Chief of Police of New York City, and his volume was a comprehensive dictionary of the criminal; a Rogues Lexicon. O’Farrell (Pocket Companion, vol. III), c. 1808; pg. 62.

X:1

T:Oil of Barley

M:6/4

L:1/8

S:O’Farrell – Pocket Companion, vol. III (c. 1808)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:Amin

AG | E2A2A2 c4d2 | c2A2G2 G4G2 | E2A2A2 A3B cd | “tr”e4d2 c4cd |

e3f e2d2c2A2 | c2A2G2G4G2 | E2A2A2d2c2A2 | A6A4 :: AB | c3d (ef) g4a2 |

g2e2d2 d4d2 | e3fe2e2 (a2g2) | e4d2c4cd | e2e2a2d4e2 | c2(dc)(AG) G4G2 |

E2A2A2d2c2A2 | A6 A4 :|

           

OILING UP JULIANNE. Old-Time, Breakdown. A modern ‘old-time’ composition by fiddler Tara Nevins.

           

ÓINSIÚLACHT SHINÉAD. AKA and see “Jenny’s Folly.”

                          

OISEAN AN DEIGH NA FÈINNE.  See “Ossian alone, the last of the Fingalians.”

 

OISIN'S LAMENT (Caoine Oisin). AKA and see "Ossian's Lament." Irish, Air (3/4 time). G Major. Standard tuning. AB. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; No. 132, pg. 23.

           

O’KANE’S. Irish, Hornpipe. Bulmer & Sharpley (Music from Ireland), vol. 1, No. 74.

           

O'KEEFE'S. See “O’Keeffe’s Reel.”

                          

O’KEEFFE’S DREAM. AKA and see “Glentown,” “The Gleanntán Reel [1]." Irish, Reel. Recorded under this title by Denis Murphy on RTE album "Denis Murphy: Music from Sliabh Luachra.”

              

O’KEEFFE’S HORNPIPE [1].  AKA and see “O’Dwyer’s Hornpipe [1].” Irish, Hornpipe.

 

O’KEEFFE’S HORNPIPE [2].  AKA and see “Showman’s Fancy.” Irish, Hornpipe.

                                      

O’KEEFE’S PLOW. AKA – “O’Keeffe’s Plough.” AKA and see “Tom Billy’s (Reel) [3],” “Cronin’s Fancy Hornpipe,” “O’Keeffe’s Reel [2],” “Speed the Plow [2].”

           

O’KEEFE’S (POLKA) [1]. AKA and see “Din Tarrant’s [6],” “Jim Keeffe’s (Polka) [4],” “Mert Plunkett’s .” Irish, Polka. Ireland, Kerry. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Named for famed Kerry fiddler Padraig O’Keeffe. See note for “Din Tarrant’s [6].” Mac Amhlaoibh & Durham (An Pota Stóir: Ceol Seite Corca Duibne/The Set Dance Music of West Kerry), No. 46, pg. 31. Mallinson (100 Polkas), 1997; No. 27, pg. 11.

 

O’KEEFFE’S (POLKA) [2]. AKA and see “Blue Ribbon Polka [2],” “The Cobbler [3],” “Din Tarrant’s [9],” “Din Tarrant’s No. 1,” “Tarrant’s [2].” Irish, Polka. Ireland, County Kerry. B Minor. Standard tuning. AABB. The tune is associated with famed fiddler Padraig O’Keeffe of the Sliabh Luachra region of the Cork/Kerry border. Black (Music’s the Very Best Thing), 1996; No. 206, pg. 110. 

X:1

T: O'Keeffe's

S: De Danaan

Q: 300

R: polka

M: 2/4

L: 1/8

K: D

B/c | dB fB | de f>e | dB bB | c/B/A/c/ ef/e/ | dB fB | de f>e | d>e f/e/d | B2 B :|

e | ff/f/ ba | fe f>e | dB bB | c/B/A/c/ ef/e/ | ff/f/ ba | fe f>e | d>e f/e/d | B2 B :|

 

O’KEEFFE’S (POLKA) [3]. AKA and see “Ballydesmond Polka [2],” “Maurice Manley’s Polka.” Irish, Polka. A Dorian. Standard tuning. AABB. Source for notated vesion: set dance music recorded at Na Píobairí Uilleann, late 1980’s [Taylor]. Taylor (Music for the Sets: Blue Book), 1995; pg. 31.

                          

O’KEEFFE’S REEL [1]. Irish, Reel. D Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Source for notated version: Frank McCollam (Ballycastle, County Antrim) [Mulvihill]. Mulvihill (1st Collection), 1986; No. 61, pg. 16. Irish, Reel. RCA 09026-60916-2, The Chieftains - "An Irish Evening" (1991).

 

O’KEEFFE’S REEL [2]. AKA and see “Charlie Mulvihill’s (Reel) [2],” “Cronin’s Fancy Hornpipe,” “The Doon Reel [2],” “The Kilfenora Reel [3],” “Mulvihill’s Reel [2],” “Speed the Plough [2].”

           

O'KEEFFE'S SLIDE [1]. Irish, Slide (Jig). E Dorian (Em). Standard tuning. AABB. The tune was popularised in the US when Larsen & Dalglish paired it with the rather similar-sounding “Road to Lisdoonvarna [1].”  Brody (Fiddler’s Fakebook), 1983; pg. 205. Songer (Portland Collection), 1997; pg. 148. Claddagh CC14, "Chieftains 4." June Appal 016, Grey Larson & Malcolm Dalglish – “Banish Misfortune.” June Appal JA 029, Guy Carawan - “Jubilee” (1979). Shanachie 79024, "Chieftains 4" (1972/1983).

X:1
T:O'Keeffe's Slide
S:Sessions, LPs, etc
Z:Nigel Gatherer <gatherer@argonet.co.uk>
M:12/8
L:1/8
K:Am
A2 e e2 d BAB d2 B|A2 e e2 d B2 G GFG|
A2 e e2 d BAB d3|BAB d2 e B2 A A3:|
e2 a a2 b a2 g e2 d|e2 a a2 b a2 g e2 f|
g2 a g2 e dBA G3|BAB d2 e B2 A A3:|

 

O’KEEFE’S (SLIDE) [2]. AKA and see “Paddy Cronin’s [3].”

           

O’KEEFFE’S SPEED THE PLOW. AKA and see “Speed the Plow [2],” “The Doon Reel [2],” “The Kilfenora Reel [3],” “Tom Billy’s (Reel) [3],” “Charlie Mulvihill’s (Reel) [2].”

           

O’KEEFFE’S WALTZ. Irish, Waltz. G Major. Standard tuning. AA’BB’. Source for notated version: accordion player Johnny O’Leary (Sliabh Luachra region of the Cork-Kerry border) [Moylan]. Moylan (Johnny O’Leary), 1994; No. 271, pgs. 154-155.

           

O’KEEFFE’S ‘WOMAN OF THE HOUSE’. Irish, Reel. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. A variant of the reel “Woman of the House [1],” composed by Sliabh Luachra fiddle master Padraig O’Keeffe. Source for  notated version: accordion player Johnny O’Leary (Sliabh Luachra region of the Cork-Kerry border) [Moylan]. Moylan (Johnny O’Leary), 1994; No. 210, pg. 121.

           

O’KELLY’S FANCY. Irish, Hornpipe. D Major. Standard tuning. AA’BB. Recorded in 1954 on a 78 RPM Columbia disc by Paddy O’Brien (paired with “The Cuckoo”). Chonnachta CICD 173, Brian Conway – “Consider the Source” (2008). Columbia IDB 499 (78 RPM), Paddy O’Brien (1953). Green Linnet SIF3082, Paddy O’Brien - “The Banks of the Shannon.”

X:1

T:O’Kelly’s Fancy

R:hornpipe

Z:Jeff Myers

M:4/4

L:1/8

K:D

(3dc=c|BgdB Ae=cA|(3GFG (3BAG FdAF|GDEF GA (3Bcd|cded fed=c|

BgdB Ae=cA|(3GFG (3BAG FdAF|GDEF GA (3Bcd|1 cdef g2:|2 cdef g3

|:B|A ~d3 e ~d3|B ~e3 feef|(3gfe (3fed edcB|(3ABA ^GB AFG^G|

A ~d3 e ~d3|B ~e3 feef|gfed cABc|(3ded ce d3:||

           

O'KELLY'S JIG. Irish, Jig. A Minor. Standard tuning. AABB. Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol. 1; No. 28, pg. 38.

X:1

T:O’Kelly’s Jig

M:6/8

L:1/8

R:Jig

B:Kerr – Merry Melodies, vol. 1, pg. 38 (c. 1880’s)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:Amin

B|A2A AGE|A2A AGE|G2G GFE|G3 E3|A2 A ABc|

BAB G2B|ABc dcB|c3 c2::d|e2e edc|e3 g3|G2G {A}GFE|

G3E3|A2A ABc|BAB G2G|ABc dcB|c3 c2:|

           

OKLAHOMA. Old-Time, Breakdown. C Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Source for notated version: Frank Reed [Phillips]. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 1, 1994; pg. 166.

           

OKLAHOMA QUICKSTEP. Rounder 0436, Ray Curbow – “Traditional Fiddle Music of the Ozarks, vol. 2: On the Springfield Plain.”

                       

OKLAHOMA RAG. Old-Time, Country Rag. USA, Texas. F Major. Standard tuning. One part. See the related "White River Stomp" and "Beaumont Rag." Source for notated version: Bob Wills (Texas) [Phillips]. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), Vol. 2, 1995; pg. 92.

           

OKLAHOMA REDBIRD. Old-Time, Hornpipe. USA, Missouri. B Flat Major. Standard tuning. AB (Silberberg): AABB (Phillips). The source for this tune, Lyman Enloe (1906-1997), was originally from Miller County, in the Missouri Ozark region, and this was one of his favourite tunes. He performed in the 1920’s with his uncle Tony Gilmore on local radio stations, and was an active dance and contest performer in his youth. “Oklahoma Redbird” is one of ‘100 essential Missouri tunes’ listed by Missouri fiddler Charlie Walden. Sources for notated versions: Lymon Enloe [Phillips]; Jack Link [Silberberg]. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 2, 1995; pg. 211. Silberberg (Tunes I Learned at Tractor Tavern), 2002; pg. 109. County CD CO-CD-2707, Lymon Enloe – “Fiddle Tunes I Recall.” Voyager VRCD 344, Howard Marshall & John Williams – “Fiddling Missouri” (1999).

X:1

T:Oklahoma Redbird

L:1/8

M:2/4

S:Lyman Enloe

K:Bb

D/E/|F=E/F/ G/F/_E/F/|D/F/B/c/ dc/d/|e/d/c/B/ A/F/A/c/|B/d/c/B/ A/G/F/D/|!

FE=/F/ G/F/_E/F/|D/F/B/c/ dc/d/|e/d/c/B/ A/F/A/c/|B/d/c/A/ B :|

|:F/A/|BF/B/ dB/d/|fd/f/ bf/g/|ag/a/ g/=e/c/e/|gf/g/ f/e/d/c/| BF/B/ dB/d/|fd/f/ bf/g/|

ag/a/ g/e/c/A/|Bc/A/ B:|

 

OKLAHOMA ROOSTER, THE. AKA and see “Ten Strike.” Old‑Time, Breakdown. USA, southwestern U.S. D Major. Standard tuning. AA'BB'. The tune appears in Gems of the Ballroom (c. 1890’s) as the fourth change of "Ten Strike Quadrille.” The tune was in the repertorie of the late Disney, Oklahoma, fiddler Uncle Dick Hutchison. Source for notated version: Joe Hermann with the Criton Hollow String Band (W.Va.) [Phillips]. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 1, 1994; Rounder 0128, The Backwoods Band ‑ "Jes' Fine" (1980. learned from Mingo Barnez).

X:1

T:Oklahoma Rooster, The

M:C|

L:1/8

R:Reel

Z:Transcribed by Bruce Thomson

K:D

|z6(3dcB|:A2Ac dcde|fefg abaf|e^gaf ecAc|dfed BAFG|

A2Ac dcde|fefg abaf|e^gaf ecAc|1 d2 de d2(3dcB:|2 d2 de fg(3agf||

|:[_e2b2][_e4b4] [_e2b2]-|[_e2b2] Bc dcB2|[c2a2][c4a4][c2a2]-|[c2a2] AB cBA2|

[d2g2][d4g4] gg|fefg abaf|e^gaf ecAc|1 d2e2 fg(3agf:|2 d3d d4|]

 

OKLAHOMA RUN. AKA‑ "Old Purcell" (refers to the town of Purcell, Oklahoma). Old‑Time, Breakdown. USA; Ozarks, Oklahoma. C Major. Standard tuning. AABB. The first part of the tune is that more familiarly known as “Green Willis [1],” itself a version of the “New Rigged Ship [1].” The title probably commemorates the public land offering. Source for notated version: J.S. Price (Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma) [Thede]. Thede (The Fiddle Book), 1967; pg. 151. Rounder CD-0435, Stan Jackson – “Traditional Fiddle Music of the Ozarks, vol. 1.”

 

OKLAHOMA WAGONER.  Old-Time, Breakdwon. USA, Arkansas. C Major. Standard tuning. ABB’. A distanced version of “Wagoner.” The tune is also in the repertoire of Glenn Rickman, who says it used to have the title “Big Creek.” Beissenger (2008) points to similarities in the second strain with the ‘B’ part of Lon Jordan’s “Tom and Jerry,” and the ‘A’ part of “Little Brown Jug” and “Rachel.” Source for notated version: Kermit Moody (1909-1977, Mountian View, Stone County Arkansas) [Beisswenger & McCann]. Beisswenger & McCann (Ozarks Fiddle Music), 2008; pg. 98.

 

OKLAHOMA WALTZ [1]. Old-Time, Waltz. D Major. Standard tuning. AB. Source for notated version: fiddler Earl Collins [Phillips]. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 2, 1995; pg. 286.

 

OKLAHOMA WALTZ [2]. Old‑Time, Waltz. USA, Oklahoma. C Major. Standard tuning. AABB (Thede): AA'BB' (Phillips). See also the related "Old 'C' Waltz." Sources for notated versions: Ed Chastain (Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma) [Thede]; Tom Carter & Tom Sauber [Phillips]. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 2, 1995; pg. 287. Thede (The Fiddle Book), 1967; pg. 149.

 

OL DEOC LIOMSA. AKA and see "Have a Drink with Me."

 

OLAMAOID SLAINTE MAIT. AKA and see "We'll Drink Good Health."

 


OLD ABE LINCOLN CAME OUT OF THE WILDERNESS. AKA and see "Out of the Wilderness," "The Old Grey Mare."

 

OLD ADAM.  AKA and see “Aithernie Lodge.”

 

OLD AGE AND YOUNG (NEVER AGREES). AKA – “Auld Eage and Young Never Grees the Gither.” Scottish, Country Dance Tune (3/2 time). Directions for the dance to this tune were written down in 1752 by John McGill, dancing master in Girvan, for his students. The melody, in ‘old hornpipe’ time, appears in the Drummond Castle Manuscript (in the possession of the Earl of Ancaster at Drummond Castle), inscribed "A Collection of Country Dances written for the use of his Grace the Duke of Perth by Dav. Young, 1734."  Jack Campin identifies “Old Age and Young” as an adaptation of an English pipe tune from the 17th century called “Three Sharp Knives,” and he suggests the English tune might have been a vehicle for some sort of ritual-combat dance. “Blacks Hornpipe” also has similarities, says Jack. The melody was also published in Robert Petrie’s 3rd Collection of Strathspey Reels, by Daniel Dow (1746) and John Anderson (1790).

X:1
T:Auld Eage and Young Never Grees the Gither
C:trad
S:Petrie's Third Collection
Z:Steve Wyrick
N:Slowish
L:1/4
M:6/4
K:Bb
G2B3/2c/dc/B/|AFFcA/B/c/A/|G2B3/2c/dc/B/|AGgGA/B/c/A/:|!
G3/2A/GG,B,2|DF2BAF|G3/2A/GG,B,2|DG2BA^F:|!
G/A/B/G/ A/B/c/A/ B/c/d/B/|AFFcA/B/c/A/|G/A/B/G/ A/B/c/A/
B/c/d/B/|AGgGA^F:|!
g3/2a/gGA2|Ff2FA/B/c/A/|g3/2a/gGA2|Gg2G A/B/c/A/|!
g3/2a/gGA2|Ff2FA/B/c/A/|BA/B/cB/c/dc/d/|gf/e/dcBA||

 

OLD AMZI ECCLES TUNE. AKA and see "Voulez‑Vous Danser{, Mademoiselle}" "The Soldier's Glory," "The Life of a Soldier," "Nine-pins (Ninepins) [2]." American, March (6/8 time). USA, southwestern Pa. G Major. Standard. AB. This air has been known both as a dance and march air. The Pennsylvania version given by Bayard has collapsed two of the parts that appear in older printed versions into one. Amzi Eccles was an old Monongahela fifer and band leader. Source for notated version: Hiram Horner (fifer from Westmoreland and Fayette Counties, Pa., 1960) [Bayard]. Bayard (Dance to the Fiddle), 1981; No. 579, pgs. 512‑513.

                       

OLD ANDREW’S HORNPIPE. American, Hornpipe. A Major. Standard. AABB. Howe (1000 Jigs and Reels), c. 1867; pg. 57.

X:1

T:Old Andrew’s Hornpipe

M:4/4

L:1/8

R:Hornpipe

S:Howe – 1000 Jigs and Reels (c. 1867)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:A

E | AaBa caBa | Aaga faea | dcBA GEAB | c2 BA GBeG | AaBa caBa | aaga faea |

fadf BdGB | A2a2a2 :: (3EFG | Aagf (e>c) A2 | Ffed c>A F2 | DdcB A>F D2 |

EAce a2 ab | c’bac’ bagb | afdf ecAE | Fa=gf edBd | cABg a2 :|

                       

OLD APPLES IN WINTER. Irish, Double Jig. Ireland, Co. Sligo. E Minor. Standard. AABB. No apparent relation to the tune usually played as "Apples in Winter," though there are some similarities to “Morrison’s Jig.” Source for notated version: fiddler Fred Finn, 1919-1986 (Kiltycreen, Kilavil, Co. Sligo) [Flaherty]. Flaherty (Trip to Sligo), 1990; pg. 83. Coleman Music Center CHC 009, fiddler Joe O’Dowd (1913-1987) – “The Coleman Archive, vol. 2: The Home Place” (2005. Various artists).

X:1

T:Old Apples in Winter

M:6/8

L:1/8

R:Jig

S:Flaherty – Trip to Sligo (1990)

K:Emin

B,|EDE GFE|BEE GFE|DED FED|…

 

OLD ARK'S A-MOVING, THE. AKA and see "Twin Sisters [3]" [Sherman Wimmer version], "Keep the Ark/Art A-Movin'." Old‑Time, Breakdown. USA; north Georgia, southwestern Va. D Major. Standard. AB (Phillips): AABB (Brody). The tune is thought by several sources to be related to "The Boys of Bluehill." Bill Hicks (1972) suggests that the name seems to be derived from the musically unrelated hymn "Keep the Ark a Moverin.'" The tune is played slower than the normal breakdown tempo. See also the related tune "Jenny Baker." Fiddler A.A. Gray and guitarist John Dilleshaw recorded four sides together in Atlanta in March, 1930, including “Tallapoosa Bound”/”Streak O’ Lean-Streak O’ Fat” and “N….r Baby”/”The Old Ark’s a’Moving.” Source for notated version: Taylor Kimble (Carroll County, southwestern Va.), who learned the tune from Buck MacMillan, probably from Franklin County, Va. [Brody, Phillips]. Brody (Fiddler’s Fakebook), 1983; pg. 155. Phillips (Traditional Music in America), vol. 2, 1995; pg. 94. Rounder 0010, "Fuzzy Mountain String Band" (learned from Taylor Kimble). Vocalion 5458 (78 RPM), 1930, A.A. Gray (north Georgia).

 

OLD AS THE HILLS [1] ("Com Criona Le N' Cnuicib" or "Com Sean Leis na Cnocaib"). Irish, Double Jig. A Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Laufman, 1973; pg. 23. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 53. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1979; No. 1017, pg. 190. O'Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1986; No. 232, pg. 52. Green Linnet SIF1122, Kevin Burke - "Open House" (1992).

X:1

T:Old as the Hills [1]

M:6/8

L:1/8

R:Jig

S:O’Neill – Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems (1907), No. 232

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:A

a|ABA cBA|d2e fa|ABA c2A|dBG Bcd|ecA Ace|d2e fga|ece dBG|Ace a2:|

|:e|c2e ecA|Aca ecA|c2e ecA|Bcd dcB|c2e ecA|Acg fga|ece dBG|Ace a2:|

 

OLD AS THE HILLS [2]. AKA and see “Man in the Moon [3],” “Over the Hills.” Irish, Jig. E Dorian. Standard tuning. AABB’. Martin Mulvihill gives this tune as an accompaniment for the dance The Haymakers’ Jig. Mulvihill (1st Collection), 1986; No. 47, pg. 128.

X:1

T:Old as the Hills [2]

M:6/8

L:1/8

R:Jig

S:Mulvihill – 1st Collection, No. 47, pg. 128  (1986)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:Edor

d/^c/|BGE {F}EDE|BAB d2B|AFD DED|DFA {e}d^cd|BGE {F}EDE|

BAB d2e|fdB AFD|EFE E2::d|efe edB|ede gfe|ded {e}dAF|

DFA {e}d^cd|efe edB|1 ede gfe|d^cB AFD EFE E2:|2 gbg f/g/a/f/|edB AFD|EFE E2||


 

OLD ASTROLOGER, THE. Irish, Air (4/4 time). C Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Source for notated version: “From Mr. Patrick Joyce” [Stanford/Petrie]. Stanford/Petrie (Complete Collection), 1905; No. 545, pg. 138.

X:1

T:Old Astrologer, The

M:C
L:1/8

S:Stanford/Petrie (1905), No. 545

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:C

E/F/ | GG GF GE C>c | cBGE F2 E>F | GG GF GA BG | Gc cc c3 :|

|: G | Gf ed cB GF | Gf ed c3G | cc cB c>d ec | BG FE F2 E>F | GG GF GABG | Gc cc c3 :|

 

OLD AUNT ADKINS. Old-Time, Breakdown. A Major. Standard tuning. AA'BCC'. Source for notated version: Owen ‘Snake’ Chapman [Phillips]. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 1, 1994; pg. 167.

 

OLD AUNT BETSY. Old-Time, Song and Breakdown. Composed by Ashe County, North Carolina, fiddler Frank Blevins. Frank Blevins and His Tar Hell Rattlers was a name made up on the spot at the 1927 Columbia recording session in Atlanta (where they recorded the tune) for the band consisting of 16-year-old fiddler Frank Blevins, his older brother and guitarist Ed Blevins and banjo player Fred Miller. The band’s playing was inspired by a few shots of corn liquor from a convenient jug. Fred Miller told Marshall Wyatt (as told in the liner notes to “Music from the Lost Provinces”) a story of the band’s waiting for the release of the recording, in the meantime travelling about the coal camps playing. The pulled into Beckley, West Virginia, one day and went into the local record store to ask about new releases, in anticipation that theirs would finally be out.  The proprietess told them she anticipated some coming in that day on the train, and the boys made themselves at home in the store and waited. When she returned “Old Aunt Betsy” was the first one she put on and remarked that the follow on the record sure could fiddle. “Oh, he ain’t so hot,” said Frank, and offered that, had he his fiddle he could do better. The storeowner had string band instruments in the back, which the woman brought out, and the boys went to it. ‘How on earth did you learn that,’ the astonished lady demanded, pointing out it had just come out. Frank: “Lady, I didn’t learn it, I made it!” A similar story is told of the Scots fiddler Niel Gow. Old Hat Enterprises CD, “Music from the Lost Provinces” (1997).

 

OLD AUNT JENNY. AKA and see "Dandy Jim from/of Caroline [1]." Old‑Time, Breakdown. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. The tune appears to be a variant of the 1844 American minstrel song "Dandy Jim of Caroline," lyrics perhaps composed by Dan Emmett.

***

Who's been here since I've been gone? (x3)

Old Aunt Jenny with her nightcap on.  {Ford}

***

Ford (Traditional Music in America), 1940; pg. 48.

 

OLD AUNT JENNY WITH HER NIGHT-CAP ON. Old-Time, Breakdown. USA; West Virginia, Kentucky. G Major. Standard tuning. AB. Bruce Greene learned the tune from Estill Bingham (1899-1990) of Pineville, Bell County, Kentucky, who played it in G Major, although an A cross-tuned version was played by Kentucky fiddler Lella Todd. Titon (2001) points out that several different tunes go by this title. He recorded Indiana fiddler Clyde Davenport playing a G tune, unrelated to Bingham’s Kentucky tune, that he calls “Old Lank Jenny with Her Nightcap On.” Sometimes this ditty (in part a common floating verse) is sung to it:
***

Who’s been here since I been gone?
Old Aunt Jenny with her nightcap on.

***

Source for notated verson: Estill Bingham (Pineville, Bell County, Ky., c.1986) [Tition]. Titon (Old-Time Kentucky Fiddle Tunes), 2001; No. 111, pg. 140. Wilson Douglas – “Fiddle Tunes from Central West Virginia.” Shanachie Records 6040, Gerry Milnes & Lorraine Lee Hammond – “Hell Up Coal Holler” (1999. Learned from “old Tom Dillon” of Webster County, W.Va.).

 

OLD AUNT KATE [1]. Old‑Time, Breakdown. USA, Nebraska. D Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Iowa fiddler Dwight Lamb played this tune under the title "Possum Up a Gum Stump” (see Rounder 0529). Source for notated version: Bob Walters (Burt County, Nebraska) [Christeson]. R.P. Christeson (Old Time Fiddlers Repertory, vol. 1), 1973; No. 93, pg. 66.

X:1

T:Old Aunt Kate [1]

M:2/4

L:1/8

R:Breakdown

S:Christeson – Old Time Fiddler’s Repertory, vol. 1, No. 93  (1973)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:D

D/F/|:AF ED|A/d/f/d/ e/d/B/d/|AF EE/F/|G/B/A/G/ F/D/D/F/|

AF ED|A/d/f/d/ e/d/B/d/|AF EE/F/|G/B/A/G/ [F/A/][D/A/][DA]:|

|:A/B/d/e/ ff/d/|e/d/e/f/ gg|A/B/d/e/ fd|e/f/e/d/ cA/B/c/|

d/c/d/e/ ff|e/d/e/f/ gf/g/|a/b/a/f/ g/f/e/c/|d/B/A/F/ D:|

 

OLD AUNT KATIE [2]. AKA and see "Cluck Old Hen [3]" (Pa. floating title). Old‑Time, Breakdown. USA, southwestern Pa. G Major. Standard tuning. AB. The given title as well as the alternate appear to be floating titles. The tune is Scottish in origin, according to Bayard (1981), with a number of titles including "The Marquis of Hastings' Strathspey," "Loudon's/Louden's Bonnie Woods (and Braes)," "Lord Moira('s Welcome to Scotland)," and "Lord Moira." Two lyrics are associated with the tune in Pennsylvania:

***

Old Aunt Katie, good enough for anybody,

Old Aunt Katie, good enough at all;

Old Aunt Katie, good enough for anybody,

Take 'er in her old clothes, or don't take her at all.

And:

Cluck old hen, cluck right along;

Cluck old hen, till your chickens rolls on;

Cluck old hen, and I don't give a damn‑‑

I can git a woman if you can git a man. (Bayard)

***

Sources for notated versions: Irvin Yaugher (Fayette County, Pa., 1944), Walter Neal (Armstrong County, Pa., 1952) [Bayard]. Bayard (Dance to the Fiddle), 1981; No. 284A‑B, pg. 237.

 

OLD AUNT MARY JANE. See "Went To the River and I Couldn't Get Across."

 

OLD AUNT SALLY. American, Air. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Howe includes the tune in his section of “Ethiopain Melodies,” meaning tunes from the mid-19th century minstrel stage. “My Old Aunt Sally” is the title of a song by blackface minstrel  Dan Emmett. The title is mentioned in a list of traditional Ozark Mountain fiddle tunes compiled by musicologist/folklorist Vance Randolph, published in 1954. Howe (1000 Jigs and Reels), c. 1867; pg. 42.

X:1

T:Old Aunt Sally

M:2/4

L:1/8

S:Howe – 1000 Jigs and Reels (c. 1867)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

D | D/G/G/B/ A/d/d/e/ | d/d/c/A/ d/d/d/d/ | D/G/G/B/ A/d/d/e/ | d/d/c/A/ A/G/>z/ D/ ||

g | =f/d/>z/g/ g/f/d/>g/ | =f/e/f/g/ f/d/>z/^c/ | d/g/g/^f/ g/g/a/g/ g/d/>z/ z/ |

g/g/ zd/d/>z/A/ | BG F/D/ z | GABc | d/e/c/A/ A<G || 

 

OLD BACHELOR, THE.  English, Jig. G Minor. Standard tuning. AAB. “The Old Bachelor” first appears in Henry Playford’s Dancing Master, vol. 9 (London, 1695), and in subsequent editions through the end of the series in 1728. It also appears in Walsh’s Compleat Country Dancing Master (London, 1718, and again in later editions of the work in 1731 and 1754). It is the vehicle for a song in Thomas D’Urfey’s Wit and Mirth, or Pills to Purge Melancholy, vol 6 (London, 1719-1720) and the French Airs de Danses Angloises Hollandoises et Francoises a Deux Parties by Antoine Pointel, published be Christophe Ballard in Paris in 1700. It was included in the music manuscript copybook of Joseph Maria Garcia of Chalco, Mexico, dating from 1772, containing some 300 melodies and numerous country dance instructions. Barlow (Complete Country Dance Tunes from Playford’s Dancing Master), 1985; No. 335, pg. 80. Barnes (English Country Dance Tunes, vol. 2), 2005; pg. 96.

X:1

T:Old Bachelor

M:6/4

L:1/8

R:Jig

S:Henry Playford – Dancing Master, vol. 9 (1695)

K:Gmin

d2|g3a g2 f3e d2|e6 d2e2f2|B3c d2 e3d c2|(A6 A4) A2|d3e d2 c3BA2|

B3c d2 G4e2|e2d4 d3ec2|(d6 d4):||a2|^f3=ed2 a4d2|(g6 g4)a2|

b3a g2f4e2|(d6 d3)e f2|f3g f2 d2B2G2|c3dc2 A2F2c2|f3gf2 d3cB2|

B4f2 b4d2|e4g2 a3ba2|^f3=e d2 g4d2|e3d c2 B3AG2|(G6 G4)||

           


OLD BACHELOR'S REEL. American, Reel. D Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Originally published in Ryan's Mammoth Collection of 1050 Reels and Jigs (1883), pg. 51, but deleted for an unknown reason when it metamorphosed into Cole's 1000 Fiddle Tunes in 1940. Appears in The Devil's Box, vol. 21, No. 4, Winter 1987, pg. 48.

 

OLD BALD EAGLE.  Old-Time, Air and Breakdown. A Major. Standard tuning. AB. Composed by Homer Dillard, scion of the group The Dillard Family. There are other, unrelated “Old Bald Eagle” pieces; one was collected by Cecil Sharp in 1917 (English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, vol. II, p. 374), and a play-party song from the repertoire of Kentucky folksinger Jean Ritchie. Drew Beisswenger (2008) notes similarities in the ‘A’ part with “Sourwood Mountain,” and in the ‘B’ part with Ike Helton’s “Grey Eagle.” Source for notated version: Homer E. Dillard, Sr. (c. 1913-c. 1993, Salem, Missouri) [Beisswenger & McCann]. Beisswenger & McCann (Ozark Fiddle Music), 2008; pg. 181. Flying Fish 215, “The Dillards: Homecoming and Family Reunion” (1981).

 

OLD BALL. AKA ‑ "Baldy." Old‑Time, Breakdown. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB.

***

There was an ol' hoss, his name was Ball.

Nothing in the world could make him stall.

You'd crack your whip and cry out: "Ball",

Out comes wagon, team and all. (Ford)

***

Ford (Traditional Music in America), 1940; pg. 88.

 

OLD BALLROOM TWO-STEP. Old‑Time, Two‑step. USA, Nebraska. C Major ('A' parts) & F Major ('B' part). Standard tuning. AA'B. Source for notated version: Bob Walters (Burt County, Missouri) [Christeson]. R.P. Christeson (Old Time Fiddlers Repertory, vol. 1), 1973; pg. 143‑144.

 

OLD BALL'S DANCE. English, Jig. England, North‑West. E Minor. Standard tuning. AABB. A modern composition by Ian McGrady. Old Ball was the Lancashire hobby horse revived by the late Stan Gee of Stockport (Eng.). Knowles (Northern Frisk), 1988; No. 130.

 

OLD BANGUM. AKA and see "Wild Hog in the Woods [1]," "Bangum."

 

OLD BANJO JIG. Old‑Time. The tune was recorded for the Library of Congress by musicologist/folklorist Vance Randolph, from Ozark Mountain fiddlers in the early 1940's.

 

OLD BARNDOOR, THE. AKA and see "Barn Door (Jig)." American?, Jig. G Dorian. Standard tuning. AABB. Hardings All Round Collection, 1905; No. 116, pg. 37.

X:1

T:Old Barndoor, The

M:6/8

L:1/8

R:Jig

S:Harding’s All Round Collection, No. 116  (1905)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:Gmin

D2G G^FG|ABc d2=e|f=ef dfd|cAF AGF|DGG G^FG|

ABc d2=e|f=ef dcA|G2z G2z::g2d g2d|gdg a2g|

f2c2 f2c|fcf fcf|gdg gdg|gdg a2g|ded cBA|G2z [G2g2]z:|

 

OLD BEECH LEAVES. Old-Time, Breakdown. Related to “Lost Girl.”

 

OLD BEGGARMAN, THE (An Sean Deircteoir). Irish, Air (6/8 time, "with spirit"). D Major. Standard tuning. AB. Source for notated version: Chicago Police Sergeant James O’Neill, a fiddler originally from County Down and Francis O’Neill’s collaborator [O’Neill]. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; No. 267, pg. 46.

X:1

T:Old Beggarman, The

M:6/8

L:1/8

N:”With Spirit”
S:O’Neill – Music of Ireland (1903), No. 267

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:D

d | A>BA A<AB | =c>dc c2e | (dc).B (AB).c | d2e f2d | A>BA Adc | BcB Bed |

cBA ABc | ded d2 || (d/e/) | f2 f (fga) | (agf) (e2f/g/) | a2 a gfe | dcB (A2d/e/) |

(fgf) (fga) | agf efg | fed cBc | ded d2 ||

 

OLD BELL COW [1], THE. Old‑Time, Breakdown. D Major ('A' part) & A Mixolydian ('B' part). Standard tuning. AABB. The accompaniment begins on an 'A' major chord. Like several old-time tunes, there is considerable play between major and mixolydian versions (i.e. the c# notes are often played natural). There is a song in the key of G Major/Mixolydian by this name in the "Old-Time String Band Songbook" (Oak Publications, 1964) by the New Lost City Ramblers (John Cohen, Mike Seegar, Tracy Schwartz, Tom Paley) originally from the Dixie Crackers, though it appears to have little relation to versions #1 and #2 here. Source for notated version: Pete Sutherland [Phillips]. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes, vol. 1), 1994; pg. 167. Flying Fish 102, New Lost City Ramblers ‑ "20 Years/Concert Performances" (1978. Learned from The Dixie Cracker's recording). Heritage 080, Enoch Rutherford ‑ "Old Cap'n Rabbit." Paramount 3151 (78 RPM), The Dixie Crackers (north Ga.) {1928}.

X: 1
T:Old Bell Cow
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:D
"A"e2ef ecAc|e2ef ecAc|"G"d2B2G2B2|d2B2d2f2|!
"A"e2ef ecAc|e2efe2ef|"G"gfgfe2d2|"E"cABc"A"A4:|!
"A"A2A2E2E2|C2C2A,2A,2|C2C2E2E2|"D"FD2FD4|!
"A"A2A2E2E2|C2C2A,2A,2|C2C2E2E2|"D"FD2FD4:|

 


OLD BELL COW [2]. Old-Time, Breakdown. E Dorian/Mixolydian. Standard tuning. AABB. The ‘bell cow’ was the dominant cow of the herd, which was belled to keep track of distant ranging herds in the hills (since all would be grouped around the leader). Boys would be given the task of turning the cows out in the morning, then going out to listen for the sound of the cow bell in the afternoon to gather them home for the second milking of the day. Different sized bells (different timbres) would also help denote one’s herd from his neighbors. One of the earliest American references to a bell cow comes from the diary of New Hampshire native Matthew Patten, who noted in his entry of May 3, 1767: “Our bell cow calved a bull calf.” Source for notated version: fiddler Matt Glaser [Phillips]. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes, vol. 1), 1994; pg. 167. Foxglove Records, Ruthie Dornfield – “Ways of the World: Fiddle Tunes from Appalachia & Texas” (1998).

X:1                                                                                

T:Belled Cow

R:Reele

N:From Ruthie Dornfield on “Ways of the World”

M:4/4

L:1/8

Z:Transcribed by Bruce Thomson

K:E

efe=d BdBA|GBAG E=DB,D|EFGA Bc=dB|c2c3 BAc|

efe=d BdBA|GBAG E=DB,D|EFGA Bc=dB|c2c3 BAc:|

|:B3B B2 BA|GFGA BGE2|A3G F2A2|A2G2 FEFG|

B3B B2 BA|GFGA B2c2|=d2c2 BcBA|GFGA BGE2:|

 

OLD BILL CHEATUM. AKA and see "Bill Cheatum." One part. The title appears in a list of traditional Ozark Mountain fiddle tunes compiled by musicologist/folklorist Vance Randolph, published in 1954.

 

OLD BILL WILSON. See “Billy Wilson [1].”

                       

OLD BILLY BROCKER’S, THE.  Irish, Reel. D Major. Standard tuning. AA’B. The title employs the convention of using the descriptor “old” to denote a tune that is similar but different than one with a similar title and melody.  Here, “Old Billy Brocker” is different in the second part to “Billy Brocker.” Source for notated version: New Jersey flute player Mike Rafferty, born in Ballinakill, Co. Galway, in 1926 [Harker]. Harker (300 Tunes from Mike Rafferty), 2005; No. 46, pg. 15.

 

OLD BILLY HELL. Old-Time, Breakdown. USA, Kentucky. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Bingham is the sole source for this tune, says Titon (2001). Source for notated version: (Estill Bingham 1899-1990, Pineville, Bell County, Ky., c. 1986) [Titon]. Titon (Old-Time Kentucky Fiddle Tunes), 2001; No. 112, pg. 140.

                       

OLD BLACK CAT SHIT IN THE SHAVINGS. Old-Time, Jig. USA, West Virginia. G Major. Standard tuning. A rare 6/8 time tune in old-time repertoire, from West Virginia fiddler Edden Hammons. Edden Hammons Collection, vol. 2. 

                                   

OLD BLACK JOE [1]. English, Morris Dance Tune (6/8 time). D Major (Mallinson): B Flat Major (Bacon). Standard tuning. ABB (x4), A (Mallinson): AABBBB (x4), A (Bacon). A version of the long popular morris dance tune "Black Joke," collected from  Badby, Northamptonshire, in  England's Cotswolds. This Badby variation lacks the usual distinctive two measure ending commonly found in "Black Joke" versions. See note for “Black Joke” for Kirkpatrick’s opinion on the dance. Bacon (The Morris Ring), 1974; pg. 30. Mallinson (Mally’s Cotswold Morris Tunes), 1988, vol. 2; No. 63, pg. 30. Cottey Light Industries CLI-903, Dexter et al - "Over the Water" (1993). Topic TSCD458, John Kirkpatrick - "Plain Capers" (1976).

 

OLD BLACK JOE [2]. AKA and see "The Black Joke". English, Morris Dance Tune (6/8 time). G Major. Standard tuning. AAB, x4. Collected from the village of Bucknell, Oxfordshire, in England's Cotswolds. The tune is perhaps the most faithful to the original “Black Joke” than other Cotswold morris traditions. See note for “Black Joke.” Bacon (The Morris Ring), 1974; pg. 121. Mallinson (Mally’s Cotswold Morris Book), 1988, vol. 2; No. 11, pg. 7. Topic TSCD458, John Kirkpatrick - “Plain Capers” (1976).

 

OLD BLACKBIRD [1], THE. American, March (4/4 time). USA, southwestern Pa. G Major (& E Minor {'B' part}??). Standard tuning. AAB. No relation to the old and much‑respected "The Blackbird". Source for notated version: old Pennsylvania fifer Ananias Bittner via Samuel Wiltrout (fifer from Westmoreland and Fayette Counties, Pa., 1946) [Bayard]. Bayard (Dance to the Fiddle), 1981; No. 331, pg. 303.

 

OLD BLACKBIRD [2], THE.  AKA and see "The Blackbird".

 

OLD BLACKGUARD, THE. Irish, Barndance. Sliabh Luachra on Parade. Seamus Creagh & Aidan Coffey – “Traditional Music of Ireland.”

 

OLD BLACKTHORN, THE (An Sean-draighneán). AKA and see "The Blackthorn Stick [4]," “Brightest Eyes,” "Clear the Road," “Countess of Louden(‘s Reel),” "Inch of Garth," "The Irishman's Blackthorn Stick," "The Rising of the Sun," "The Rising Sun [2]," "Jolly Clam-Diggers." Irish, Reel. Ireland; County Sligo, west Kerry. D Major. Standard tuning. AB (Breathnach): AA’BB’ (Moylan). A version of “The Rising Sun” family of tunes, although with a different ‘B’ part. Sources for notated versions: fiddler Tommy Potts (Ireland) [Breathnach]; fiddler Fred Finn, 1919-1986 (Kiltycreen, Kilavil, Co. Sligo) [Flaherty]; accordion player Johnny O’Leary (Sliabh Luachra region of the Cork-Kerry border), recorded at Na Píobairí Uilleann, October, 1984 [Moylan]. Breathnach (CRÉ I), 1963; No. 136, pg. 55. Flaherty (Trip to Sligo), 1990; pg. 81. Lyth (Bowing Styles in Irish Fiddle Playing, vol. 1), 1981; 49. Moylan (Johnny O’Leary), 1994; No. 155, pg. 90. Coleman Music Center CHC 009, Jackie Coleman & Andy Davey – “The Coleman Archive, vol. 2: The Home Place” (2005. Various artists).

X:1

T:The Old Blackthorn

T:The Jolly Clam‑Diggers

S:Donal Murphy, accordion

B:CRE I, no.136 (slightly different)

R:reel

M:4/4

L:1/8

Z:transcribed by Paul de Grae

K:D

d2 FB AFEF|D2 dc BABc|dF ~F2 AFEF|GBAF Dgfe|

d2 FB AFEF|Dddc BABc|dF ~F2 AFEF|GBAF DABc||

~d2 fd egfd|A2 (3cBA eA (3cBA|defd efge|abag fdec|

~d2 fd egfd|A2 (3cBA eA (3cBA|defg a3 g|fdec dgfe||

 

OLD BLIND BARD, THE (An Sean File Dall). Irish, Air (2/4 time, "brilliant"). E Minor. Standard tuning. AB. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; No. 266, pg. 46.

X:1

T:Old Blind Bard, The

M:2/4

L:1/8

R:Air

N:”Brilliant”

S:O’Neill – Music of Ireland (1903), No. 266

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:Emin

B/A/ | G/A/B/c/ dc/d/ | e/d/c/d/ Bb/a/ | {a}gf/e/ B^d | e3 B/A/ |

G/A/B/c/ dc/d/ | e/d/c/d/ Bb/a/ | g/f/e/d/ B^d | e3 || b | b>a gf/g/ |

a/g/f/e/ de/f/ | gf/g/ e/f/g/a/ bB BB/A/ | G/A/B/c/ dc/d/ | e/d/c/d/ Bb/a/ | g/f/e/d/ B^d | e3 ||

 

OLD BLIND DOG. AKA and see "Old Grey Mare," "Old Yeller Dog." Old‑Time, Breakdown. USA, Kentucky. A variation on "The Old Grey Mare" or "Old Gray Horse Came Tearing Out of the Wilderness." Fretless FR 160, The Double Decker Stringband ‑ "Sentimental Songs and Old Time Melodies" (1981. Learned from the Jimmy Johnson Stringband). Morning Star 45003, Jimmie Johnson's String Band (north-central Ky.) ‑ "Wink the Other Eye: Old Time Fiddle Band Music from Kentucky, vol. 1" (1980).

 

OLD BLIND SOW, SHE STOLE THE MIDDLINS. AKA and see “Paddy O’Meaghan’s Reel.” Old‑Time, Breakdown. G Major. Standard. AA'BB. Some similarities with the British Isles tunes “Navvie on the Line” and “London Hornpipe [1]." See also “Montreal Hornpipe.” Source for notated version: John Summers (Indiana) [Phillips]. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 1, 1994; pg. 168. Rounder 0194, John W. Summers ‑ "Indiana Fiddler" (1984).

 

OLD BLUE MULE.  AKA and see “Blue Mule.”

 

OLD BLUE SOW. Old‑Time, Breakdown. USA; Arkansas, Mississippi. A Major & D Major. Standard or ADae (Bruce Molsky) tunings. Most modern versions appear to be modeled after a 1939 recording by Mississippi fiddler Enos Canoy, who had learned the tune from an uncle, Robert Runnels, from Simpson County, Mississippi. Tom Rankin (1985) says of the tune: "This piece is less an identifiable melody than a patchwork of harmonic textures woven with a series of rhythmic bowing patterns." The title appears in a list of traditional Ozark Mountain fiddle tunes compiled by musicologist/folklorist Vance Randolph, published in 1954. Cartunes 105, Bruce Molsky and Bob Carlin – “Take Me as I Am” (2004. Sourced to Enos Canoy). Marimac Records 9023, Bob Carlin and Bruce Molsky‑‑"Take Me As I Am." Mississippi Department of Archives and History AH‑002, Enos Canoy and the Canoy Band ‑ "Great Big Yam Potatoes: Anglo‑American Fiddle Music from Mississippi" (1985. Originally recorded for the Library of Congress in 1939).

 

OLD BLUE TICK, THE. Old‑Time, Breakdown. USA, Missouri. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Source for notated version: August Merrill (St. James, Missouri) [Christeson]. R.P. Christeson (Old Time Fiddlers Repertory, vol. 2), 1984; pg. 73.


                       

OLD BOAR, THE. Canadian, Reel. Canada, Cape Breton. F Major. Standard tuning. A ‘double-tonic’ tune composed by luthier, fiddler and composer Otis Tomas (Goose Cove, St. Ann’s Bay, Cape Breton).

***

The sign of the Old Boar, a London tavern.

***

Cook (Night in the Kitchen Collection), 1996; pg. 17. Cranford (Jerry Holland’s), 1995; No. 156, pg. 45. Fiddlesticks cass., Jerry Holland - “Fathers and Sons” (1992). Green Linnett, Jerry Holland - “The Fiddlesticks Collection” (1995).

                       

OLD BOB . Old-Time, Breakdown. USA, Upper South. G Major ('A' and 'B' parts) & D Major ('C' part). Standard tuning. ABCC'. The melody has irregular measures in all parts. Source for notated version: Bruce Green [Phillips], learned from Gusty Wallace. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 2, 1995; pg. 95.

                       

OLD BOB RIDLEY. Old‑Time, Breakdown and Song Tune. D Major. Standard tuning. AABB.

***

Oh listen folks, I will sing you a ditty,

I'm from home, but that's no pity.

To praise myself it is a shame,

But old Bob Ridley is my name.

Chorus:

I'm old Bob Ridley, Oh, I'm old Bob Ridley, Oh!

I'm old Bob Ridley, Oh, I'm old Bob Ridley, Oh! (Ford)

***

Ford (Traditional Music in America), 1940; pg. 54 (additional verses on pg. 401).

                       

OLD BOG GROUND, THE (An Sean Mointean). Irish, Reel. G Major. Standard tuning. AAB. O'Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1907/1986; No. 771, pg. 134.

X:1

T:Old Bog Ground, The

M:C|

L:1/8

R:Reel

S:O’Neill – Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems (1907), No. 771

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

B/A/|:G2 EG DGBG|EGBG AGEA|G2 EG DGBc|dBcA BG G2:|

||Bd (3ddd ec ~c2|dBGB AGED|Bd (3ddd efge|dBAc BG G2|

Bd (3ddd efge|dBGB AGED|Bdef gage|dBcA BGAF||

                       

OLD BOG HOLE, THE. AKA and see "Turkey in the Straw," "Natchez Under the Hill [1]," "Old Zip Coon." Scottish, Country Dance Tune (4/4 time). A Major. Standard tuning. AAB. Related to the American tune family “Turkey in the Straw.” Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol. 1; No. 2, pg. 23. Rounder 7024, Joe MacLean- "Old Time Scottish Fiddle Music From Cape Breton Island" (1977).

                       

OLD BOG ROAD, THE.  Irish, Reel. G Major. Standard tuning. AA’B. Composed by New York B/C box player Martin Mulhaire.

X:1
T:Old Bog Road, The
R:reel
C:composed by Martin Mulhaire
S:Martin Mulhaire
Z:Lesl Harker from Martin Mulhaire
M:C|
L:1/8
K:G
G3B dB (3BAB|gBeB dB (3BAB|ceAd BdGB|Add^c dedB|
GFGB dB (3BAB|gBeB dB (3BAB|ceAd BdGB|1 ADFA G3D:|2 ADFA G2Bd||
|g2gf gd (3Bcd|gGfG eGdB|cEGc BDcB|Add^c defd|
g2gf gd (3Bcd|gGfG eGdB|cEGc BDGB|(3.A.^GA FA (3=GAG Bd|
|g2gf gd (3Bcd|gGfG eGdB|cEGc BDGB|(3.A.^AB =AG Fedc|
(3BAG dG eGdG|gGfG eGdB|cEGc BDGB|(3.A.^GA FA =G3D||

 

OLD BOOT, THE.  English, Jig. G Minor. Standard tuning. AABB. The melody appears in Marjorie Heffer and William Porter’s Maggot Pie (1932), a book of 25 new country dances. Barnes (English Country Dance Tunes, vol. 2), 2005; pg. 96.

 

OLD BOX STOVE. AKA and see "Box Stove Jig." Canadian (originally), American; Jig. Canada, Ontario. USA, Vermont. F Major ('A' part) & B Flat Major ('B' part). Standard tuning. AAB: AA'BB (Phillips). The melody was composed by Ontario fiddler Ward Allen (1924-1965), a professional fiddler who won contest after contest in Canada in the 1950’s and who had a successful career playing over the radio. Source for notated version: Clem Myers [Phillips]. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 2, 1995; pg. 360 (appears as "Box Stove Jig"). Fretless 101, "The Campbell Family: Champion Fiddlers." Fretless 103, Clem Myers: Northeast Regional Old Time Fiddle Champion 1967 & 1970." GRT Records SP 203, “Ward Allen Presents Maple Leaf Hoedown, Vol. 1” (reissue).

X:1

T:Old Box Stove, The

C:Ward Allen

R:jig

M:6/8

L:1/8

Z:Transcribed by Bruce Osborne

K:F

:|:AB|c2 a B2 g|Aff fcA|Bgg gAB|caa aAB|

c2 a B2 g|Aff fcA|Bcd bge|f4:|

K:Bb

|:e2|d2 d d2 d|dBF DFB|d^cd B2 g|f3 -fcd|

e2 e e2 e|ecA F3|ede gfe|feg f2 e|

d2 d d2 d|dBF DFB|d^cd B2 b|g3 g3/2f3/2|

e2 g f2 e|d2 f B2 d|c2 e FGA|B4:|

                       

OLD BRAGS, THE. See “Kinnegad Slashers.”

 

OLD BROWN SLIPPER, THE (An Seanslipéirín Donn). Irish, Slip Jig. E Minor. Standard tuning. AAB. Source for notated version: accordion player Tim Leahy, 1968 (Listowel, Co. Kerry, Ireland) [Breathnach]. Breathnach (CRÉ II), 1976; No. 99, pg. 53.

                       

OLD BUCK. Old‑Time, Breakdown. USA; Mt. Airy, N.C. G Major. Standard tuning. AB. Tommy Jarrell told Mike Seegar in an interview:

***

Will I was a trying to learn "Paddy On the Turnpike," Rafe Brady came

down here one time and I got him to play it twice for me. Well that was

back yonder in the 40's when I wasn't doing no fiddling much, you know,

and I got to fooling with it...and about a year after that I come up with

that tune that I play there and Rafe was down here again. I played it for

him and he says "Tommy, that ain't 'Paddy on the Turnpike', that's

'Old Buck'. Well, if there's a tune named 'Old Buck' I don't know

nothing about it but that was all that was said, that's what I called

it from then on, 'Old Buck'...So I made a tune I reckon. But there's

part of it sort of like 'Paddy on the Turnpike' but it still ain't 'Paddy

on the Turnpike' and the ending up of the low part and the high part

both got a little place there you slide your fore finger‑‑B.F. calls it

a‑slurring the note...

***

Sources for notated versions: Tommy Jarrell (Mt. Airy, N.C.) [O.T.H.]; Mark Gaponoff [Silberberg]. Old Time Herald, August 1991, vol. 3, No. 1, pg. 39. Silberberg (Tunes I Learned at Tractor Tavern), 2002; pg. 109. County 778, Tommy Jarrell ‑ "Pickin' On Tommy's Porch" (1984).

                       

OLD BUFFS MARCH. Scottish, March. The melody appears in the Gillespie Manuscript of Perth (1768).

                       

OLD BULL. See "Ole Bull."

                       

OLD BUNCH OF KEYS. See "Bunch of Keys [2]."

                       

OLD BUSH (JIG). AKA and see “The Gullane Jig,” “Old Joe’s Jig.”

 

OLD BUSH (REEL), THE (An tSean-Sceach). AKA and see "The Bush Reel," "Captain Rock [2]," "Cnoic Fhada Mhughdhorna,” “The Long Hills of Mourne." Irish, Reel. A Mixolydian/Dorian. Standard tuning. AB. Eamonn O'Doherty (1979) remarks that the title to this tune supposedly derives from the Irish custom of planting a special tree as a gathering place, quoting John Dunton (1674): "hither all the people resort with a piper on Sundays and Holydays in the afternoon, where the young folks dance till the cows come home." Brian McNamara (notes to “A Piper’s Dream”, 2002) remarks that the tune was a favorite of Clare piper Willie Clancy’s, and was also associated with the playing of Paddy Canny, P.J. Hayes and Peter O’Loughlin. However, “Captain Rock” may have been an earlier title (by which it appears in the older collections of Petrie (1880) and O’Neill (1903). Petrie suggested provenance for the tune to County Clare. See also the related “Scolding Wife” and an untitled Highland in Feldman & O’Doherty’s Northern Fiddler (1979), pg. 109. Source for notated version: piper Willie Clancy (1918-1973, Miltown Malbay, West Clare) [Mitchell]. Cotter (Tradiitonal Irish Tin Whistle Tutor), 1989; 71. Mitchell (Dance Music of Willie Clancy), 1993; No. 3, pg. 30. Claddagh 4CC 32, Willie Clancy – “The Pipering of Willie Clancy, vol. 1” (1980). Gael-Linn CE 14 (78 RPM), Liam (Willie) Clancy. Green Linnett GLCD 1181, Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill - “The Lonesome Touch” (1997).

                                      

OLD BUSH [1], THE. AKA and see "Bascadh Thomais Mhic an Bhaird," “The Bush Reel,” “Captain Rock [2],” "Cnoic Fhada Mhughdhorna,” “Long Hills of Mourne,” "Mourne Mountains [1]," "Peggy Is Your Head Sick?" "The Purty Girl." Irish, Reel. A Dorian (O’Neill): A Dorian/Mixolydian (Harker/Rafferty, Mallinson, Taylor). Standard tuning. AB (O’Neill): AABB (Mallinson): AA’BB (Taylor): AA’BB’ (Harker/Rafferty). One of the first tunes recorded by the Ballinakill Céilí Band (East Galway) for Parlophone of London in July 1930 (the band’s founding members were Anna Rafferty, Stephen Maloney, Tommy Whelan, Tommy Whyte, Jerry Maloney). The tune was a favorite of the late uilleann piper Willie Clancy, recorded by him in 1960 on the All-Ireland Champions album. Leitrim Piper Brian McNamara says “The Old Bush” was also much associated with Clare musicians Paddy Canny, P.J. Hayes and Peter O’Loughlin. It appears as “Captain Rock” in O’Neill and in George Petrie’s mid-1880’s collection (published in 1902); the latter publication cites a County Clare provenance as well and sources his version to a musician named Frank Keane. Fiddler Mick Conneely says the tune still has County Clare associations in modern times. Breathnach (CRÉ I) printed it under the title “Long Hills of Mourne.” Source for notated version: set dance music recorded at Na Píobairí Uilleann, late 1980’s [Taylor]; New Jersey flute player Mike Rafferty, born in Ballinakill, Co. Galway, in 1926 [Harker]. Harker (300 Tunes from Mike Rafferty), 2005; No. 149, pg. 45. Mallinson (Essential), 1995; No. 71, pg. 30. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 104. Taylor (Music for the Sets: Blue Book), 1995; pg. 24. Cló Iar-Chonnachta Records CICD 148, Mick Conneely – “Selkie” (2001). Coleman Music Center CHC 009, fiddler Phil McConnan – “The Coleman Archive, vol. 2: The Home Place” (2005. Various artists). Drumlin Records, Brian McNamara – “A Piper’s Dream” (2000). Green Linnet Records 1058, Matt Molloy & Sean Keane ‑ "Contentment is Wealth" (1985). Topic TSCD 602, Jerry Moloney & Tommy Whyte – “Irish Dance Music” (1995. A reissue of the 1930 original).  

See also listings at:

Jane Keefer’s Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources 

Alan Ng’s Irishtune.info

X:1

T:The Old Bush  [1]

T:The Long Hills of Mourne

N:printed settings include CRE I 105, O'Neill's DMI 781

N:("Captain Rock") and Petrie's "Complete Collection" no. 907

R: reel

M:4/4

Z:Transcribed by Paul de Grae

L:1/8

K:Dmix

A2 GA cA ~A2 | d^cde fdec | A2 GA cAGA | dfef cAdc |

A2 GA cAGB | Add^c defg | (3agf (3gfe fde^c | dfed cA A2 ||

eg ~g2 edcd | efge ~c3 d | eg ~g2 afge | dfed cA A2 |

eg ~g2 ag ~g2 | fgfe defg | (3agf (3gfe fde^c | dfed cA A2 ||

X:2

T:untitled

B:The Complete Collection of Irish Music, Petrie/Stanford, no. 907

N:County of Clare Reel, from Frank Keane

R:reel

M:4/4

Z:Transcribed by Paul de Grae

L:1/8

K:C

G3 A cAAc|~d3 e f3 z|G3 A cAAc|d2 ed cAAF|

G3 A cAAc|d3 e f2 g2|afge fdec|d2 ed cA A2||

g2 ge d2 d2|efge c2 c2|efge afge|d2 ed cA A2|

efge af g2|afge c3 e|f3 d e3 c|dfef cA A2||

 


OLD BUSH [2], THE. AKA and see "The Five Leaved/Leaf Clover [2],” “The Hawthorne [1],” “The Haymaker,” “Heel of the Hunt,” “The Hunter’s Purse,” “Paddy Kelly’s (Reel) [3],” "An tSean-Sceach."

                                   

OLD BUTTIE WAS A BONNIE LAD. AKA and see "Clean Pea(se) Straw/Strae," "Pease Strae/Straw." Shetland, Mainland Shetland.

                                   

OLD BUZZARD [1]. Old‑Time, Breakdown. USA, central Kentucky. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB'C. The tune was recorded by Doc Roberts (1897‑1978), who learned it from Owen Wallace, an older African-American fiddler from Madison County, Ky, a friend and neighbor. Gus Meade thinks 70% of Roberts' repertoire was from Wallace (Wolfe, 1982). The melody bears no relation to the better-known tune with the similar title, “Shoot that Turkey Buzzard,” however, several have pointed out the similarities with the Ozark regional tune “Fort Smith [1]. Researcher Guthrie Meade (Country Music Sources, 2002) believes “Old Buzzard” linked to “Big-Eyed Rabbit.” Source for notated versions: Doc Roberts (Ky.) [Phillips]. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 1, 1994; pg. 169. Titon (Old-Time Kentucky Fiddle Tunes), 2001; No. 113, pg. 141. Davis Unlimited DU 33015, Doc Roberts – “Fiddling Doc Roberts” (1975). Gennett 6336 (78 RPM), Doc Roberts (1927). Morning Star 45004, Doc Roberts (et al) - "Wish I Had My Time Again: Old Time Fiddle Band Music from Kentucky" (1990).

 

OLD BUZZARD [2]. Old-Time, Breakdown. G Major. Standard tuning. AA'BB'. Related to version #1. Source for notated version: Roscoe Parrish [Phillips]. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 1, 1994; pg. 169.

                                   

OLD 'C' WALTZ. Old-Time, Waltz. C Major. Standard tuning. AA'AA'BB'. See also the related "Oklahoma Waltz [2]." Source for notated version: Stuart Williams [Phillips]. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 2, 1995; pg. 287.

                                   

OLD CAMERONIAN. AKA and see “Cameronian Reel [3].” Irish, Reel. F Major. Standard tuning. One part (Reavy): AA’B (Feldman & O’Doherty). The tune is a version of the Scottish reel “Mrs. Grant of Laggan,” also known as “Miss Lyall [2]." According to County Cavan/Philadelphia fiddler and composer Ed Reavy’s (1898-1988) son Joseph, his father reset this melody in his own style and states that “some of his (Ed’s) later compositions can be traced to the fine strain of this old tune.” See also Michael Coleman’s “Malloy’s Favorite.” Source for notated version: fiddler John Doherty (1895-1980, County Donegal) [Feldman & O’Doherty]. Feldman & O’Doherty (The Northern Fiddler), 1979; pg. 77 (appears as last “Untitled Reel” on the page). Reavy (The Collected Compositions of Ed Reavy), No 74, pg. 81.

X:1

T:Old Cameronian, The

R:Reel

S:John Doherty

Z:First time through tune; second and third similar but have some

Z:variations; transcribed by Larry Sanger

M:C|

L:1/8

K:C

cF F/F/F cFdF|cFEF CFAc|BG^FG DGBG|[1 DGBd c_BAB:|[2 DGBd c_BAG||

Fffg fdcA|FAfg fdce|dg^fg bgag|dg^fg bgag|

dcde fdcA|Ffeg fde^f|g/a/g dg g/a/g dg|bgag fafd||

X:2

T:The Old Camerionian

R:reel

C:Ed Reavy

M:2/2

L:1/8

Z:Joe Reavy

N:Ed's setting of a very old tune. Just how much he altered the reel

N:over the years is hard to say now. Some of his later compositions are

N:traceable to the fine strains of this old tune.

K:F

A=B | cF (3FFF cFAF | cF (3FFF cFAc | =BGG^F GABc | dG (3GGG dcA=B |

cF (3FFF cFAF| cF (3FFF cFAc | =BGG^F GABc | dG (3GGG dcAG | Ffeg fdcA |

Ffeg fdcA | Gg^fa gbag | =fage fedc | Ffeg fdcA | Ffeg fdcf | egcg ^fade |1

=f2 ag fed=B :|2 =f2 ag f2 ||

           

OLD CATVILLE QUADRILLE. Paul Gifford notes the first change of this quadrille is a variant of the tune known as “Whalen’s Breakdown” (in 2/4 time) and “Bride of the Winds” (in jig time). It was recorded by "Col." John A. Pattee for Columbia in 1923--"Catville" was the former name of Pattee's hometown, New Boston, Michigan.

           

OLD CHARLIE DECKARD.  Old-Time, Breakdown. USA, Missouri. A Major. AEac# tuning. AABB. Charlie Deckard was a regionally influential fiddler in Missouri. Although source Bob Holt never heard Deckard play it, this was a well-known square dance tune when Holt was growing up. In fact, Holt learned it from the whistling of his own father, who said he had learned it at square dances when he himself was young. The Deckard family, of McClurg, Missouri, were well-known for their fiddling and dancing, remark Beisswenger & McCann (2008). The tune is somewhat archaic sounding, note the authors, with pizzicato notes similar to other Missouri tunes such as “Bear Creek Sally Goodin’”, “White River,” and “Broke(n)-Legged Chicken [1]. See also the similar “Jenny Nettles [2]” collected by Marion Thede. Source for notated version: Bob Holt (1930-2004, Ava, Missouri) [Beisswenger & McCann]. Beisswenger & McCann (Ozarks Fiddle Music), 2008; pg. 65.

           

OLD CHRISTMAS. Old-Time, Breakdown. USA, Kentucky. A Major. AEae tuning. AABB. The tune bears no relation to French Carpenter’s “Old Christmas Morning.” The title can be found in lists of tunes played at the Berea, Kentucky, 1915 fiddle contest. Alan and Elizabeth Lomax recorded the tune in 1937 for the Library of Congress from two different Kentucky fiddlers, Boyd Asher and George C. Nicholson. Source for notated version: Manon Campbell (Hallie, Letcher County, Ky., 1977) [Titon]. Titon (Old-Time Kentucky Fiddle Tunes), 2001; No. 114, pg. 142. BG-CD1, Bruce Greene – “Five Miles of Ellum Wood” (1996).

                                   

OLD CHRISTMAS MORNING. Old‑Time, Breakdown. USA, West Virginia. A Major. AEae tuning. ABB'. Old Christmas refers to the celebration of Epiphany, or Twelfth Night, on January 6, and was the date some old-time Appalachian communities celebrated Christmas (surviving into the latter half of the 20th century in isolated parts of eastern Kentucky) by lighting bonfires at night with much gunplay and fireworks. The custom was inported from North Britain, where the revelry of "Old Christmas" reached its climax in a rough and sometimes violent practice called "stanging," in which a person was hoisted on a long pole and made to dangle in the air until he bought himself free (Fischer, Albions Seed, pg. 745). In the Frank C. Brown Collection of North Carolina Folklore one old-timer is quoted:

***

In some parts of this county it is the custom to observe what is known

as Old Christmas. Opinion varies as to the date; some believe it is the

fifth and some the sixth of January. This day is believed by the people

who keep it to be the real Christmas, the birthday of Christ. They say

the Christmas we regularly keep is the "man-made" Christmas (I, 2416).  

***

The tune is related to “The Brushy Fork of John’s Creek [1],” in the repertoire of W.Va. fiddler Burl Hammnons. Source for notated version: French Carpenter (Clay County, West Virginia) [Krassen]. Krassen (Masters of Old Time Fiddling), 1983; pg. 62‑63. Rounder 0047, Wilson Douglas‑ "The Right Hand Fork of Rush's Creek" (1975. Learned from French Carpenter). Rounder 0192, John McCutcheon‑ "Winter Solstice" (1984). Rounder Heritage Series 1166-11592-2, Wilson Douglas (et al) – “The Art of Traditional Fiddle” (2001). Bruce Green – “Five Miles of Ellum Wood.”

           

OLD CHURCH HALL, THE.  Canadian, Jig. Canada, Cape Breton. F Major. Standard tuning. AABB’. Composed by the late Cape Breton fiddler and composer Jerry Holland (1955-2009). Cranford (Jerry Holland: The Second Collection), 2000; No. 300, pg. 107.

 

OLD CLEM TITUS’S REEL. American, Reel or Schottische. D Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Howe lists the tune in the schottische section. Clem Titus is listed as the composer of several tunes in the 19th century Howe/Ryan publications. Howe (1000 Jigs and Reels), c. 1867; pg. 54.

X:1

T:Old Clem Titus’s Reel

M:2/4

L:1/8

R:Schottische

S:Howe – 1000 Jigs and Reels

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:D

{B}A,/^G,/ | A,(3D/D/D/ D/E/F/D/ | FB (3B/4B/4B/4B/A/B/c/ | d/c/d/c/ B/A/F/D/ |

EB, B,(A,/^G,/) | A,(3D/D/D/ D/E/F/D/ | F/B/B/c/ B/A/B/c/ | d/c/d/B/ A/F/E/D/ |

F(D D) :: (f/g/) | a>b a/e/c/e/ | f/d/e/d/ f/d/e/d/ | B/c/B/^A/ Bb | a/f/g/e/ f/d/c/d/ |

f/g/a/f/ b/f/a/f/ | g/e/f/d/ e/d/B/A/ | B/d/c/e/ d/B/A/G/ | F/D/E/C/ D :|

                       

OLD CLOAK, THE (An Sean Fallaing). Irish, "Very Slow" Air (3/4 time). G Minor/Dorian. Standard tuning. AABB. Source for notated version: Chicago Police Sergeant James O’Neill, a fiddler originally from County Down and Francis O’Neill’s collaborator [O’Neill]. O'Neill (Music of Ireland,1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; No. 288, pg. 50.

X:1

T:Old Cloak, The

M:3/4

L:1/8

N:”Very Slow”

S:O’Neill – Music of Ireland (1903), No. 288

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:Gmin

A | B>c B3d | c>B A2 zA | B>A G2 zA | ^F=E D2 zA |

B>c B3d | c>B {B}A2 z{d}c | B>A (G3G) | ^F>A G2 z :|

|: A | B>=F F2 zE | D>F F2zF | D>G G3A | B>c {c}d2 zc |

B>B B3B | cd {g}f2 zd | d^f g2 dc | BA G2 z: |

           

OLD COMMON TIME. AKA and see "The Squirrel Hunters." American, March (4/4 time). USA, southwestern Pa. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. A local Pennsylvania title for a fife march (usually known as "Squirrel Hunting" or "Squirrel Hunters"), with the time signature sufficing for a title. Source for notated version: Hoge MS. (a fife MS), No. 40, 1944 [Bayard]. Bayard (Dance to the Fiddle), 1981; No. 220E, pgs. 175‑176.

           

OLD COMRADES. AKA and see “Anton a’Bhearnais,” “Kiss the Maid Behind the Bier,” “My Love in the Morning,” “This is My Love, Do You Like Her?” Irish, March. The tune is a variant of “Sweet Biddy Daly,” played as part of the Dingle Wren tradition by fife and drum band. The tune was transcribed by Steve MacDonogh in his book “Green and Gold,” that used the 1982 Wren event as an opportunity to explore historic and folklore background of the tradition.

X:1
T:Old Comrades
B:Green and Gold, Steve MacDonogh, Brandon, 1983
N:a Dingle Wren tune, variant of I Lost My Love
N:transposed from Eb

Z:Transcribed by Paul de Grae
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:G
G/F/|EFE EDE|G3-G2 B|ABA AGA|~d3 ~e3|
dBA GAB|ABA DEF|GFE FED|E3-E2:|:d|
e2 e edB|~d3 dBd|e2 e edB|~d3 g2 e|
dBG GAB|ABA DEF|GFE FED|E3-E2:||

           

OLD CONCERTINA REEL [1], THE. AKA and see “Brooklyn Lasses,” “John Kelly’s (Reel),” “Kerry Reel [2]." Irish, Reel. E Dorian. Standard tuning. AB. A different tune than “The Concertina Reel” which is sometimes called “The New Concertina Reel” to help differentiate the two. Kevin Burke’s title on “As the Cap Fits” is  “A Kerry Reel.” The melody is related to “Brooklyn Lasses” in Ryan’s Mammoth Collection (1883). Source for notated version: John Kelly [Breathnach]. Breathnach (CRÉ III), 1985; No. 115, pg. 57 and No. 186 (appears as “Gan Ainm”/No Title). Bulmer & Sharpley (Music from Ireland), vol. 3; 10. Green Linnet GLCD 3009, Kevin Burke – “If the Cap Fits” (1978. Appears as “A Kerry Reel”). John Kelly Sr. – "Seoda Ceoil." CEF 114, Noel Hill & Tony McMahon – “I gCnoc na Grai.”

X:1

T:Old Concertina Reel, The

T:John Kelly's

R:reel

N:id:hn-reel-390

Z:transcribed by henrik.norbeck@mailbox.swipnet.se

M:C|

L:1/8

K:Edor

B2ed BcdA|B2AF EFGA|B2ed BcdA|(3BcB AF D2FA:|

|:Beec d2fd|edBc dBA2|1 Beec d2fd|edBc ~d3A:|2 g2ge ~f3e|dBABe3d||

 

OLD CONCERTINA REEL [2], THE. AKA and see “Concertina Reel.”

           

OLD CONNEMARA STOCKINGS. AKA and see “Padraig O’Keeffe’s (Reel).” Irish, Reel. D Major. Standard tuning. AA’B. A popular tune in the Sliabh Luachra region of Ireland, where it is often called “Quinn’s Reel [l],” the name given it by fiddler Padraig O'Keeffe who had the tune (and several others) from John Quinn, a flute player from Cordal. No relation to “Connemara Stockings.”

X:1

T:Old Connemara Stockings

T:Quinn's Reel

S:Paddy O'Sullivan (fiddle), north Kerry

R:reel

Z:Transcribed by Paul de Grae

M:4/4

L:1/8

N:Called Quinn's Reel in CRE 2, no. 171, from Denis Murphy,

N:and on the RTE recording of Padraig O'Keeffe

Z:Transcribed by Paul de Grae

K:D

FEFA ~B2 AB|d2 cd BE ~E2|FEFA B2 Bc|1dBAG FD D2:|

2dBAG (3FED FA||

d2 fd Adfe|~d2 fA ~B2 AB|d2 fd Adfd|(3efg fg ed~B2|

d2 fd Adfd|Adfd eB ~B2|g2 fg (3efg fe|dBAG FD D2||

           

OLD COOLIN, THE (An t-Sean Chuilfhionn). Irish, Air. D Major. Standard tuning. One part.

X:1

T:An t-Sean Chuilfhionn

T:The Old Coolin

M:3/4

L:1/8

R:Air

Q:65

S:Eugene O'Donnell, Augusta 1993

R:Air

D:O'Donnell & MacCafferty "The Foggy Dew"

K:D

FG|A2 d2 de|f2 d2 FG|A2 AB AG|F2 D2 FG|

A2 d2 de|f2 d2 AF|B2 Bd cB|A2 A2 FG|

A2 A2 AB1/2c1/2|d3 e fd|A2 AB AG|FE D2 FG|

A2 f2 ef|de f2 FA|G3 F E>F|D2 D2||

           

OLD COON DOG [1]. AKA – “Coon Dog.” AKA and see “Davy Dugger,” "Engine on a Mogul," "Shoot that Turkey Buzzard," "Greasy String [1]," "Higher Up the Monkey Goes." Old-Time, Breakdown. F Major. Standard tuning. AB (Silberberg): AABB (Phillips). Source for notated version: Seattle fiddler Vivian Williams, who learned the tune from a 78 RPM recording by Fiddlin’ Kate [Phillips, Silberberg]. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 1, 1994; pg. 169. Silberberg (Tunes I Learned at Tractor Tavern), 2002; pg. 109. Rounder 0380, Roger Cooper – “Going Back to Old Kentucky” (1990. Appears as “Coon Dog”). Voyager 340, Jim Herd - "Old Time Ozark Fiddling."

 

OLD COON DOG [2]. AKA and see “Granny, Will Your Dog Bite [1].” Old-Time, Breakdown. AEae tuning. In the repertoire of Linn County, Missouri, fiddler Nile Wilson, a north Missouri style musician.

                       

OLD CORK HORNPIPE, THE. AKA and see “Peter Wyper’s [2].”

                       

OLD CORN LIQUOR. Old-Time. GDgd tuning. A fiddle/banjo tune by African-American musicians Joe and Odell Thompson. It is a favorite of Joe Thompson for calling for dances; “you kind of top the crowd off ‘cause that’s got a lot of spirit there” (Joe Thompson, quoted in the Old Time Herald, vol. 5, No. 7, Spring 1997). Joe & Odell Thompson - “Old Time Music from the North Carolina Piedmont.”

           


OLD COPPERPLATE, THE. Irish, Reel. A Dorian (Mallinson, Taylor, Tubridy): A Mixolydian (Cranford). Standard tuning. AABB (most versions): AA’BB’ (Taylor/Tweed). No great relationship to either "The Copperplate" or "The New Copperplate" in the ‘A’ part. Source for notated version: fiddler Brenda Stubbert (b. 1959, Point Aconi, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia) [Cranford]. Cranford (Brenda Stubbert’s), 1994; No. 36, pg. 13. Bulmer & Sharpley (Music from Ireland), vol. 1, No. 48. Cranitch (Irish Fiddle Book), 1996; pg. 84. Mallinson (Essential), 1995; No. 2, pg. 1. Taylor (Through the Half-Door), 1992; No. 42, pg. 29. Taylor (Traditional Irish Music: Karen Tweed’s Irish Choice), 1994; pg. 23. Tubridy (Irish Traditional Music, Book Two), 1999; pg. 20. Shaskeen - "Shaskeen Live." Brenda Stubbert - “House Sessions” (1992).

X:1

T:Old Copperplate, The

M:C|

L:1/8

R:Reel

K:A Dorian

A2 EA cA A2|aged cAFA|G3A BGBd|gedc BAGB|

A2 EA cA A2|aged cAAG|ABcd efge|1 aged cAAG:|2 aged cA A2||

g2 gf gbag|fdde fgaf|g2 gf gbag|fdcA BG G2|g2 gf gbag|

fdde fgaf|gbag fdde|fdcA BG||

X:2

T:Old Copperplate, The

R:reel

N:Often played after "The Copperplate", #308, as "The Copperplates"

D:Shaskeen: Music for Set Dances

Z:id:hn-reel-309

Z:transcribed by henrik.norbeck@mailbox.swipnet.se

M:C|

L:1/8

K:Ador

A2EA cA~A2 | aged cAFA | G2DG BG~G2 | gedc BGGB | A2EA cA~A2 | aged cABG |

ABcd efge |1 aged cABG :|2 aged cA~A2 || |: ageg a2bg | aged cA~A2 | gede g2af | gedc BG~G2 |

ageg a2bg | aged cABG | ABcd efge |1 aged cA~A2 :|2 aged cAGB ||

"Variations:" ~A3B cA~A2 | aged cAAF | ~G3A BGBd | gedc BAGB | ~A3B cA~A2 |

aged cdBc | ABcd efge |1 aged cAGB :|2 aged cAce || |: ageg agbg | aged cAAa | g2gf ~g3a |

gedc BG~G2 | ageg agbg | aged cdBc | ABcd efge |1 aged cA~A2 :|2 aged cABG ||

           

OLD CORN LIQUOR. Old‑Time, Breakdown. USA, Piedmont area of Va., N.C. AEae tuning. A tune found in African-American fiddle and stringband tradition in the piedmont areas of Virginia and North Carolina. It was, for example, in the repertoire of African-American fiddler Odell Thompson (Orange County, N.C.). Sherman Lawson, back by Frank Hutchison, recorded the tune during the 78 RPM era.

           

OLD COUNTRY BUMPKIN, THE. Scottish, Jig. G Major. Standard tuning. AABBCC’. Gow (Complete Repository), Part 1, 1799; pg. 38.

X:1

T:Old Country Bumpkin, The

M:6/8

L:1/8

R:Jig

S:Gow – 1st Repository  (1799)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

c3 B3 {AB}| ABG FED | GAG BAB | GAG BAB | c3 B3 {AB}|

A>BA fef | g2d edc | B3 {AB}GAB :|

|:c>d/e/f/ gdB | ABG F2D | G2c (B/c/d)B | G2c (B/c/d)B|

GAB gdB | A>BA fef | g2d edc | B3 {AB}G2B :|

|: cAc BGB | ABG {G}FED | GDG BAB | GDG BAB|1 cAc BGB |

AGA fef | g2d edc | B3 {AB}GAB :|2 cac BgB | Aag fef | gab efg | Bcd GAB ||

           

OLD COUNTRY WALTZ [1]. Cajun, Waltz. See "Valse des Fruges."

 

OLD COUNTRY WALTZ [2]. See "Valse des Fruges." Cajun, Waltz. Recorded by Lawrence Walker. Not version #1.

 

OLD COUNTRY WALTZ [3].  Old-Time, Waltz. USA, Missouri. D Major. Standard tuning. AB. Source Cyril Stinnett thought the tune might have been Canadian in origin. The tune (played by an unidentified fiddler) can be heard on a 1960’s LP of fiddle music called “25 Old Tyme Fiddle Hits” (Arc FH-25-2), produced in Canada, reissued in the U.S. in 1972 on the K-Tel lable. Source for notated version: Bob Holt (1930-2004, Ava, Missouri), learned from fiddler Cyril Stinnett [Beisswenger & McCann]. Beisswenger & McCann (Ozark Fiddle Music), 2008; pg. 65. Brody (Fiddler’s Fakebook), 1983; pg. 77. Rounder CD 0432, Bob Holt – “Got a Little Home to Go to” (1998).

           

OLD COUNTRYMAN'S REEL, THE. Old‑Time, Breakdown. USA; Nebraska, Missouri. B Flat Major. Standard tuning. AABB. “Old Countryman’s Reel” is one of ‘100 essential Missouri tunes’ listed by Missouri fiddler Charlie Walden. Elias Howe (c. 1867) prints contra-dance directions along with the tune. Source for notated version: Bob Walters (Burt County, Nebraska) and Cyril Stinnett (Oregon, Missouri) [Christeson]. R.P. Christeson (Old Time Fiddlers Repertory, vol. 2), 1984; pg. 24. Howe (1000 Jigs and Reels), c. 1867; pg. 90.

X:1

T:Old Countryman's Reel

M:2/4

L:1/16

Q:122

C:Trad.

S:Cyril Stinnett

R:Reel

D:As played on 'Cyril Stinnett Plays His Favorite Old Time Fiddle Tunes'

Z:B. Shull, trans.; R. P. LaVaque, ABC

K:Bb

(3(FGA|B2)d(f bf)gf|(edc)B (Ac)F(E|DF)BF (ABc)(d|ed)c(B Ac)FA|!

B2d(f bf)gf|(edc)B (Ac)F(E|DF)BF (ABc)(d|ed)(Ac) B2:|!

(FE|DF)BF (dB)FB|DFBF (dB)FB|(EG)BG (eB)GB|EGBG (eB)GB|!

(DF)BF (dB)FB|DFBF (dB)FB|1 (Ace)(A c)eA(c|eA)c(e Ae)cF:|!

|2 (Ace)(A c)e(Ad|cB)Ac B8|!

           

OLD COURT, THE. Irish, Hornpipe. Composed by Cork accordion player Jackie Daly, named for a building in his hometown of Kanturk.

           

OLD COW CROSSED/CROSSING THE ROAD, THE. AKA and see "Cow Cross' the Road [1],” “Pop Weir Tune." American, Song Tune and Reel. USA, southwestern Pa. G Major. Standard tuning. ABB. Bayard (1981) strongly believed this is an old song transformed by folk fiddlers. See also the similarly titled “Old Cow, She Crossed the Road.” Source for notated version: Marion Yoders (fiddler and fifer from Greene County, Pa., 1963) [Bayard]. Bayard (Dance to the Fiddle), 1981; No. 149A‑B, pgs. 83‑84.

           

OLD COW DIED IN THE FORKS OF THE BRANCH. Old‑Time, Breakdown. USA; northern Alabama, North Carolina, Kentucky. The title (and also a verse) has been a "floater" in the old‑time tradition. In the repertory of Tuscaloosa, Alabama fiddler E.D. "Monkey" Brown (1897‑1972). County 788, Clyde Davenport (Monticello, Ky.) ‑ "Clydeoscope: Rare and Beautiful Tunes from the Cumberland Plateau" (1986).

           

OLD COW, SHE CROSSED THE ROAD, THE. Old-Time, Breakdown. C Major (‘A’ part) & F Major (‘B’ part). A tune by this name was in the repertoire of Galax fiddler Herbert Higgins in the 1930's. See also the similarly titled “Old Cow Crossed/Crossing the Road.” Flying Cloud FC-023, Kirk Sutphin - "Fiddlin' Around."

                       

OLD CROSS, THE.  Irish, March. G Major. Standard tuning. One part. The signature tune of the Old Cross Céilí Band from near Dungannon, County Tyrone. It was named “Old Cross” by fiddler Séamus Connolly for his 2002 book, as he had no name for the tune but associated it with the band from their frequent performances on Seán Ó Murchú’s Céilí House broadcast on Irish radio in the 1960’s. Connolly & Martin (Forget Me Not), 2002; pgs. 86-87.

 

OLD CROSSROADS, THE. AKA and see “The Clans,” “Doon the Brae,” “Down the Brae.” Irish, March (4/4 time). E Minor. Standard tuning (fiddle). AA’BB’. Source for notated version: “Recorded in Ireland, 1972; also from Ann Sheehy (Castleisland, County Kerry) [Mulvihill]. Mulvihill (1st Collection), 1986; No. 6, p. 104.

           

OLD CROW. AKA and see "The Windy Gap," "The Pure Drop"???. Irish, Reel???. A tune with this name was cited as commonly played for country dances in Orange County, New York in the 1930's (Lettie Osborn, New York Folklore Quarterly).

           

OLD CUCKOO, THE. American. From fiddler Bertram Levy. Flying Fish FF 70572, Frank Ferrel – “Yankee Dreams: Wicked Good Fiddling from New England” (1991).

           

OLD CUFFE STREET. AKA and see “Cuffe St.,” “Humours of Cuffe Street,” “Humors of Tufts Street.” Irish, Reel. The tune has also been recorded by the group Altan under the “Old Cuffe Street” title. See also the related “Reel of Bogie.” Gael-Linn CEF060, “Paddy Glackin.”

           


OLD DAD. AKA and see “Kelton’s Reel,” "Pigtown Fling," "Ston(e)y Point [1]", "Stony Point Reel" (Pa. title, 1866), “Warm Stuff,” "Wild Horse," "Wild Horses at Stony Point," "Buck Creek Girl(s)/Gal." Old‑Time, Breakdown. USA, Virginia. G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB. The old-time tune “Old Dad” is related to a minstrel song that employed the melody published by Dan Emmett in 1844 in a collection called Old Dan Emmett’s Original Banjo Melodies, Second Series. Emmett did not claim the song as his own composition and, though the words may well be his, it is likely that the tune was already well‑known, and may in fact be of British origin. Krassen (1983) says the title "Old Dad" appears to be local to Grayson County, (Southwestern) Va. Interestingly, the famous Norwegian classical violinist Ole Bull, who concertized during several tours to the United States in the mid-19th century, lent his name to the Ole Bull Violin Instruction Book; A Complete School for the Violin....., published in 1845, which contains (among the “Ethiopian Melodies”) a tune called “Old Dad.” Bull was known to play fiddle tunes as encores to his performances, and often featured regional pieces from his concert venues, though it is not known whether he played “Old Dad” or not. Source for notated version: Charlie Higgins (b. 1880 Grayson County, Virginia) [Krassen]. Krassen (Masters of Old‑Time Fiddling), 1983; p. 41. AFS L62, John Rector (Galax, Va.) ‑ "American Fiddle Tunes." Rounder 18964-1518-2, Various Artists (John Rector) – “American Fiddle Tunes” (a reissue of the 1971 Library of Congress LP of field recordings).

           

OLD DAN NELL’S. AKA and see “Barrack Hill.” Irish, Slide. Recorded by Brendan Begley under this title.

                       

OLD DAN TUCKER. AKA and see "The Soap‑Fat Man." Old‑Time, Breakdown. USA; known in nearly every state, coast-to-coast.  D Major (Mattson & Walz, Thede): G Major (Bayard, Ford, Ruth): C Major (Bayard, Buarchenal). Standard or AEf#c# (Thede) tunings (fiddle). AB (Burchenal, Ruth): AABB (Bayard, Ford, Thede). Bayard (1981) states that the origins of the tune are unclear, but that the tune predates its mid‑19th century American minstrel lyrics, variously credited to Dan Emmett (1815-1904), Henry Russell, and {in a version called "Gwine To De Mill"} to J.R. Jenkins. It is said that Emmett first performed his song “Old Dan Tucker” at the age of fifteen during a Fourth of July celebration on the village green in his hometown of Mount Vernon, Ohio. Nathan, in his Dan Emmett and the Rise of Early Negro Minstrelsy (1962), documents that Emmett taught the tune to the other three Virginia Minstrels in 1843, and that it became an instant hit. However, Old Dan Tucker was more than a song, but was a role that was acted out on stage by Emmett. Various minstrel-era publications printed different sets of words, sometimes as political satire.

***

Dan Emmett.

***

A popular tune throughout the 19th century and into the next, and is mentioned fairly frequently in publications. Several fiddle-players have said the “Old Dan Tucker” was the first tune that they learned to play, according to Mike Yates (2002). It was recorded on a dance card as a square dance played at a "Grand Select Quadrille at City Hall, Lima, Ohio, on Thursday Evening, Jan. 13th, 1870,” and “Old Dan Tucker” was given as one of the "category" tunes played in an 1899 Gallatin, Tenn., fiddle contest—the fiddler who played the best rendition won a prize (C. Wolfe, The Devil's Box, vol. 14, No. 4, 12/1/80). The title appears in a list of traditional Ozark Mountain fiddle tunes compiled by musicologist/folklorist Vance Randolph, published in 1954. Burchenal prints a circle dance of the same name to the tune, and Ford (1940, pg. 207) also prints a dance called "Old Dan Tucker." Indeed, Paul Tyler reports that Old Dan Tucker is the name of a square dance figure—“It's something like the Nine-Pin Reel, a 4-couple square dance with one extra dancer in the middle”—with the active male dancer being known as the ‘Tucker’. Recorded versions in the 78 RPM era come from Uncle Dave Macon (in the early 1920’s), Al Hopkins & His Buckle Busters (1928), and the Skillet Lickers (1928).

***

Old Dan Tucker went to town,                       

Ridin a goat and leadin' a hound;

The hound give a yelp and the goat give a jump,     

And set Dan Tucker right a‑straddle of a stump.

Chorus:

Get out‑a the way for Old Dan Tucker,

Come too late to git his supper;

Supper's done and breakfast's a‑cookin,'

Old Dan Tucker's a‑standin' and a‑lookin.'

***

Old Dan Tucker was a fine old man,

Washed his face with a fryin' pan;

Combed his head with a wagon wheel,

And died with a toothache in his heel.

Chorus:

Get out‑a the way for Old Dand Tucker,

Come too late to git his supper;

Supper's gone and meat's a‑fryin,'

Old Dan Tucker's a‑standin' and a‑cryin'. (Thede)

***

Banjo player Dan Tate, of Fancy Gap, Carroll County, Virginia, sang the tune so often his neighbors started calling him Old Dan Tucker. He sang these verses for Mike Yates in 1979:

***

Old Dan Tucker was a funny old man,

He used to ride around on our old ram.

He pulled by its mane and he pulled by its tail,

And he spurred it up with his big toe nail.

Hey, away, old Dan Tucker,

You’ve come too late to get your supper.

***

Old Dan Tucker was a fine old man,

He started to heaven in a frying pan.

Pan got hot and it did bust,

And he went to hell in a whirly-gust.

Hey, away, old Dan Tucker,

Come too late to get your supper.

***

Breakfast is over and dinner is a-cooking,

And old Dan Tucker just stood there looking.

Hey, away, old Dan Tucker,

Come too late to get your supper.

***

Old Dan Tucker he was good,

He got lost in a piece of wood.

It turned cold and he did suffer,

And it froze the heels of Old Dan Tucker.

Hey, away, old Dan Tucker,

You’ve come too late to get your supper.

***

“Old Dan Tucker” was in both white and black musical traditions. It was recorded in 1942 from the playing of Nathan Frazier and Frank Patterson, fiddle and banjo players from Tennessee, and it was recorded for the Library of Congress in 1940 by the African-American Golden Gate Quartet (from Virginia). A version under the title “Captain Dime” was collected by African-American researcher Thomas Talley and appears in his book Negro Folk Rhymes, new edition edited by Charles Wolfe in 1991. The first stanza is common, although the second is rarer, writes Wolfe; it does appear in Brown (3:117) in Kentucky and North Carolina versions. It goes:

***

Cappun Dime is a fine w’ite man,

He wash his face in a fry’n’ pan,

He comb his head wid a waggin wheel,

An’ he died with a toothache in his heel.

***

Cappun Dime is a mighty fine feller,

An’ he sho’ play kyards wid de Niggers in de cellar,

But he will git drunk, an’ he won’t smoke a pipe,

Den he will pull de watermillions ‘fore dey gits ripe.

***

Source for notated version: W.S. Collins (Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma) [Thede]. American Veteran Fifer, 1902; No. 112. Bayard (Dance to the Fiddle), 1981; No. 189A‑B, p. 145. Burchenal, 1918; pg. 10 (appears as "Virginia Reel" [1]). Ford (Traditional Music in America), 1940; p. 55 (lyrics on page 412). Howe (School for the Violin) 1851, p. 43. Mattson & Walz (Old Fort Snelling... Fife), 1974; p. 76. Ruth (Pioneer Western Folk Tunes), 1948; No. 39, p. 15. Thede (The Fiddle Book), 1967; p. 74‑75. Document DOCD 8041, The Hill Billies/Al Hopkins and His Buckle Busters: Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order, vol. 3” (reissue). Document DOCD 8058, The Skillet Lickers (reissue).  Musical Traditions MTCD321-2, Dan Tate – “Far in the Mountains, vols. 1 & 2” (2002). Old Homestead CD 4184, Uncle Dave Macon (reissue). Rounder 0194, John W. Summers ‑ "Indiana Fiddler" (1984). Rounder CD 0238, Nathan Frazier & Frank Patterson. Originally recorded 1942). Rounder CD 1827, Golden Gate Quartet.

X:1

T:Old Dan Tucker

M:2/4

L:1/8

K:D

(3A/B/c/|dddA|dd dA/A/|ddef|AABc|dddA dd dA/A/|

ddef AAB::d|f>f f2|ed Bd|e>e ef|AA Bd|

f>f a2|fd Bd|e>e ef|1 AA B:|2 Ac d2||

                                               

OLD DAVY DUGGER. See “Davy Dugger.”

                       

OLD DEAD MARCH. American, March or Slow Air (2/4 time). USA, southwestern Pa. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Source for notated version: Clyde Lloyd (fifer from Indiana County, Pa., 1952) [Bayard]. Bayard (Dance to the Fiddle), 1981; No. 260, pgs. 221‑222.

                       

OLD DERRY MARCH. AKA and see "Gates of Derry."

                       

OLD DETROIT SCHOTTISCHE. AKA and see “Detroit Schottishe.”

                       

OLD DOMINION REEL [1]. AKA and see "Dominion Reel."

 

OLD DOMINION REEL [2].  American, Reel. C Major. Standard tuning. AABB. The melody was published in George P. Knauff’s Virginia Reels, vol. III (Baltimore, 1839).

X:1

T:Old Dominion Reel [2]

M:C|

L:1/8

R:Reel

B:George P. Knauff – Virginia Reels, vol. III (Baltimore, 1839).

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:C

ce/c/ (d/e/f/d/)|ce/c/ (d/e/f/d/)|(c/e/g/c’/) (b/a/g/f/)|(e/f/g/a/) (g/e/d/e/)|ce/c/ (d/e/f/d/)|

ce/c/ (d/e/f/d/)|(c/e/g/c’/) (b/a/g/f/)|(e/f/d/e/) cz::(E/G/c/G/) (E/G/c/G/)|(F/A/c/A/) (F/A/c/A/)|

(G/A/B/c/) (d/e/f/d/)|(e/f/d/e/) cz|(E/G/c/G/) (E/G/c/G/)|(F/A/c/A/) (F/A/c/A/)|(G/A/B/c/) (d/e/f/d/)|(e/f/d/e/) cz:||

                       

OLD DONEGAL MAZURKAS, THE. AKA and see “Francie Mooney’s Mazurkas,” “Vincent Campbell’s Mazurkas.” Irish, Mazurkas. Ireland, County Donegal. A pair of mazurkas known variously by the three names in County Donegal.

                       

OLD DRAKE. Old-Time. The tonality wavers between A and D. AEae tuning. In the repertoire of West Virginia fiddler Edden Hammons. Edden Hammons Collection II, Disc 1.

                       

OLD DRUMMER’S DELIGHT. AKA and see “The Canteen Call.” The alternate title reveals that the ‘old drummer’ is not a musician, but rather a purveyor of goods. During the Civil War traveling stores, wagons filled with sundries, followed the armies and sold to soldiers who were off-duty—a kind of mobile (and civilian) PX. The proprietors were called ‘drummers’, while ‘canteen call’ was liberty for the soldiers to visit.

                       

OLD DUBUQUE. AKA and see‑ "Dubuque," "Duck River,” “Fiddling Phil,” "Five Miles Out of Town," "General Lee," “Phiddlin’ Phil,” "Sally in the Green Corn." Old‑Time, Breakdown. USA; northwest Missouri, Nebraska. D Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Dubuque is an Iowa town situated on the Mississippi. Tom Verdot believes it may be derived from an 1840’s minstrel tune called “Coonie in the Holler” (Howard Marshall). Christeson says the tune is similar to "Phiddling Phil" in Adam's book. “Old Dubuque” is one of ‘100 essential Missouri tunes’ listed by Missouri fiddler Charlie Walden. See also related "Possum Up a Gum Stump(, Connie in the Hollow) [1]," “Over the Road to Maysville [2],” and the possibly related “Apple Blossom.” Drew Beisswenger believes the melody belongs to a family of tunes that includes “Village Hornpipe,” “Last of Callahan,” and “Sweet Ellen/Ellum [2].” See note for "Dubuque” for more. Source for notated version: Bob Walters (Burt County, Nebraka) [Christeson]. R.P. Christeson (Old Time Fiddlers Repertory, vol. 1), 1973; pg. 65. Voyager VRCD 3 44, Howard Marshall & John Williams  – “Fiddling Missouri” (1999).

X:1

T:Old Dubuque

M:2/4

L:1/8

S:Christeson – Old Time Fiddlers Repertory I

K:D

D/B,/|[A,D][DD] [D/A/][F/A/][E/A/][D/A/]|[F/A/][G/A/]A/B/ A>A|

[AA]B/A/ B/A/[F/A/][E/A/]|[D/A/][F/A/][E/A/][D/A/] B,/C/D/B,/|

[A,D][DD] [D/A/][F/A/][E/A/][D/A/]|[F/A/][G/A/]A/B/ A>A|

[AA]B/A/ B/A/[F/A/][E/A/]|[D/A/][F/A/][E/A/]C/ D:|

|:d/e/|[A/f/][Aa]a/4a/4 [Aa][Aa]|f/e/d/f/ e/d/B/A/|B/[Bb]B/4B/4 ba/g/|

f/e/d/f/ e/c/d/e/|[A/f/][Aa][A/4a/4][A/4a/4] [Aa][Aa]|f/e/d/f/ e/d/B/A/|

B/c/d/A/ B/A/F/B/|A/[F/A/][E/A/][F/A/] [DA]:|

 

OLD DUDEEN, THE. AKA and see “Dúidín Reel,” “Tailor’s Thimble [4].” Irish, Reel. B Minor. Standard tuning. AB. The ‘A’ part is similar to “The Otter’s Holt.” Recorded in New York in 1949 by fiddler Paddy Killoran, originally from County Sligo (paired with “On the Road to Lurgan”). Killoran was married to a sister of flute player Josie Hayes, playing partner with Junior Crehan, and the couple would stay at the Hayes home while visiting County Clare. Junior and Josie would get together with Killoran to play when he visited and it is possible melodic material was shared between the two in the process—thus parts of Killoran’s “Old Dudeen” were reworked by Crehan as “Otter’s Holt.” Source for notated version: fiddler Danny O’Donnell (County Donegal) [Feldman & O’Doherty]. Connolly & Martin (Forget Me Not), 2002; pgs. 88-89. Feldman & O’Doherty (The Northern Fiddler), 1978; pg. 189 (appears as “Untitled Reel”). Rego, Paddy Reynolds - “Sweet and Traditional.” Rounder 1123, Paddy Killoran - “Milestone at the Garden” (1996).

 


OLD DUMBARTON DRUMS. Scottish; Strathspey, Country Dance or Scottish Measure. D Minor. Standard tuning. AABB. Carlin (The Gow Collection), 1986; No. 200. Gow (Complete Repository), Book 2, 1802; pg. 11. Stewart-Robertson (The Athole Collection), 1884; pg. 151.

X:1

T:Old Dumbarton Drums

M:C|

L:1/8

R:Country Dance

B:Stewart-Robertson – The Athole Collection  (1884)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:F

c>B|A2A>B ABGA|F2c2~c2BA|GFGA BAGF|D2d2d2cB|

A2A>B ABGA|F2c2~c2BA|GBAc BGAF|D2d2d2:|

|:c/d/e|f2f>g fgag|f2d2c2A2|f2fg fgag|~f2d2d2fg|

agfa g2fe|dfeg gfed|dcBA AGFE|D2d2d2:||

 

OLD DUTCH CHURN, THE. AKA and see "A Fig for a Kiss [1]," "Gáire na mBan," "Gliogar an Mheadair" (Gurgling of the Churn), "Gluigir a Mhidir," "Milk the Churn," "Two in a gig." Irish, Cape Breton, New England; Jig and Slip Jig. G Dorian. Standard tuning. AABB (Cole, Dunlay & Reich, Ryan, Tolman): AA’BB’ (Dunlay & Greenberg). “The Old Dutch Churn” title was brought to light in Cape Breton tradition by Kate Dunlay, who recognized a 9/8 time version of Fitzgerald’s tune in Ryan’s Mammoth Collection. See also related tunes “The Dublin Boys,” “Dublin Streets,” “The Night of the Fun [2],” “The Humours of Bottle Hill,” and “She is fit for a kiss.” Fiddler Frank Ferrel plays a 6/8 version of the tune. Sources for notated version: Winston Fitzgerald (1914-1987, Cape Breton) [Cranford, Dunlay and Reich]. Cole (1000 Fiddle Tunes), 1940; pg. 77 (appears in 9/8 time). Cranford (Fitzgerald), 1997; No. 200, pg. 78. Dunlay & Greenberg (Traditional Celtic Violin Music of Cape Breton), 1996; pg. 118. Dunlay and Reich Greenberg (Traditional Celtic Fiddle Music of Cape Breton), 1986; pg. 79. Tolman (The Nelson Music Collection), 1969; pg. 1. CAT-WMR004, Wendy MacIsaac - “The ‘Reel’ Thing” (1994). Celtic 40, Winston Fitzgerald‑ "Its New." Celtic CX 51, Winston Fitzgerald ‑ "This is Sydney” (1st in "Medley of Cape North Jigs"). Great Meadow GMM 2018, Frank Ferrel & Joe Derrane – “Fiddledance” (2004). Nimbus NI 5383, Cape Breton Island Festival Group - “Traditional Music from Cape Breton Island” (1993). David Greenberg & Puirt a Baroque - “Kinloch Fantasy.”

X:1

T:Old Dutch Churn, The

M:9/8

L:1/8

R:Slip Jig

S:Ryan’s Mammoth Collection (1883)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

(B2.d) (G2.d) dcB | (A2.c) (F2.c) cBA | (B2.d) (G2.d) edB | dfd cBA G3 |

B2g G2d dcB | A2cF2c cBA | B2dG2d dcB | dfd cBA G3 || (b2.g) (b2.g) gfd |

(a2.f) fgf agf | b2g b2g gfd |  fdB Bdf g3 | b2g b2g gfd | a2f fgf agf | b2g a2^f g=fd |

dfd cBA G3 ||

           

OLD EIGHTEEN-TWELVE (1812) QUICKSTEP, THE. AKA and see "The 1812 March," "Ye'll Aye Be Welcome Back Again," "Duncan Davidson."

           

OLD FAITHFUL. Canadian, March (cut time). Canada, Cape Breton. D Major. Standard tuning. AA’B. Composed by the late Inverness, Cape Breton, fiddler Jerry Holland (1955-2009). Cranford (Jerry Holland’s), 1995; No. 124, pg. 36. Fiddlesticks cass., Jerry Holland - “A Session with Jerry Holland” (1990). Wildcat Records WILDCD 101, Ronan Martin – “Ronan Martin” (2008).

X:1
T:Old Faithful
C:Jerry Holland
R:march

Z:Transcribed by Paul de Grae
M:4/4
L:1/8

K:D
ag|”D”f2 ed “A”c2 Bc|”D”d2 AG FADF| “G”GFGB “D”AdDE|”E7”FEED “A”E2 ag|
”D”f2 ef “F#7”gedc|”Bm”dABG “D7”F2 EF|”G”GFGB “D”AF”A”GE|

”D”F2 “G”D2 “D”D2:| fg abag f2 ef| “Em”gage “A”c2 BA| ”D”dcde fagf|

”E”e2 E2 “A”E2 fg| ”D”abag f2 ef|”F#7”gedc “Bm”d2 “D7”(3AB=c|

”G”BAGB “D”AF”A”GE | ”D”F2 “G”D2 “D”D2 fg| abag f2 af| “Em”gage “A”c2 BA| “D”dcde “B7”fagf|

“E”e2 E2 “A”EGFE| ”D”DFAd “Em”EGBe|”D”FAdf “G”gbag |”D”fd”A”ec “D”dA”G”BG| ”D”F2 “G”D2 “D”D2||

           

OLD FASHION TWO-STEP. Cajun, Two-Step (4/4 time). USA, southwestern Louisiana. A Major. Standard tuning. One part. A modern song. Source for notated version: Willis Touchet, Touchet Brothers (La.) [Francois]. Francois (Yé Yaille Chère!), 1990; pgs. 432-433.

           

OLD FASHIONED HABIT, THE. AKA and see “Last Night’s Joy.” Irish, Reel. D Mixolydian. Standard tuning. AABB. Treoir.

X: 1

T: Old Fashioned Habit

S: "Treoir"

M: 4/4

L: 1/8

R: reel

Z: Transcribed by Bill Black

K: Dmix

dc |: A2 AG FGAB | cBcG EFGB | (3AAA AD FGAc | d2 eg fddc |

(3AAA AG FGAB | cBcG ECEG | (3AAA AD FGAB | d2 eg fd d2 :|

d2 fd adfd | ^cdef gage | d2 fd adfd | ^cdeg fddA |

d2 fd adfd | ^cdef gage | abag fged | ^cdeg fd d2 :||

           

OLD-FASHIONED SCHOTTICHE. American, Schottische. G Major. Standard tuning. "'Old‑Fashioned Schottishe' was a popular dance number for many years following the Civil War. It is made up from parts of the music of the above‑mentioned song ('As they marched down this way to the foot of the street, The band began to play and the music was so sweet...') and of 'Sweet Marie' (Ford, 1940)." Ford (Traditional Music in America), 1940; pg. 162 (Ford also prints the words to "Sweet Marie" on pg. 379).

           


OLD FAVOURITE, THE. AKA and see “Kilfenora Jig [2],” “Micko Doyle’s Jig.” Irish, Jig (6/8 time) or Slide (12/8 time). Ireland, County Clare. G Major. Standard tuning. AAB (Silberberg): AABB' (Boys of the Lough, Miller & Perron, Songer, Sullivan): AA’BB’ (Mallinson). It has been suggested that the title derives from the name a pub, “The Favourite,” in Holloway, North London, a rendezvous for Irish musicians and the location of the live Topic recording "Paddy in the Smoke.” Source Mac Gabhann/Smith, however, says it is a jig from County Clare, where he learned it (Miller & Perron). Source for notated version: A (Co.) Clare jig learned from fiddler Antóin Mac Gabhann/Tony Smith (County Cavan, lately removed to County Meath, Ireland) [Boys of the Lough, Miller & Perron]; John Keenan [Sullivan]; Laurie Andres [Silberberg]. Boys of the Lough, 1977; pg. 26. Breathnach (CRÉ II), 1976; No. 67 (appears as untitled slide). Bulmer & Sharpley (Music from Ireland), vol. 4, No. 53. Mallinson (Enduring), 1995; No. 66, pg. 28. Miller & Perron (Irish Traditional Fiddle Music), 1977; vol. 2, No. 65. Miller & Perron (Irish Traditional Fiddle Music), 2nd Edition, 2006; pg. 29. Silberberg (Tunes I Learned at Tractor Tavern), 2002; pg. 110. Songer (Portland), 1997; pg. 149. Sullivan (Session Tunes), vol. 3; No. 16, pg. 6. Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann No. C18, Tony Smith - "From the Homes of Ireland" (1973. Various artists). Philo 1042, Boys of the Lough ‑ "The Piper's Broken Finger" (1976). Transatlantic TRA 311, Boys of the Lough ‑ "The Piper's Broken Finger." Green Linnett SIF1155, Martin Hayes - “Under the Moon” (appears as “Kilfenora Jig”). Green Linnett SIF3084, Four Men and a Dog - “Shifting Gravel” (appears as “Kilfenora Jig” in the key of A Major).

See also listings at:

Jane Keefer’s Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources 

Alan Ng’s Irishtune.info

X:1

T:Miko Doyle’s

T:Old Favourite, The

R:slide

H:Also played in A, #60

D:Sean Ryan: Siuil Uait

Z:id:hn-slide-22

Z:transcribed by henrik.norbeck@mailbox.swipnet.se

M:6/8

L:1/8

K:G

~B3 BAB|dBA G2d|ded ded|ded B2A|

~B3 BAB|dBA G2d|dge dBA|1 GAG G2A:|2 GAG GBd|

|:~g3 fgf|efe d2B|ded ded|ded B2d|

~g3 fgf|efe d2B|1 dge dBA|GAG GBd:|2 dge dge|dge dBA||

“variations”

|:B2B BAG|dBA G2d|ded d2B|ded B2A|

B2B BAG|dBA G2d|ded B2A|1 G3 G2A:|2 G3 GBd||

|:~g3 fgf|efe d2B|ded d2B|ded B2A|

~g3 fgf|efe d2B|ded B2A|1 G3 GBd:|2 G3 G2A||

           

OLD FIELD RABBIT. Old‑Time, Breakdown. USA, Mississippi. A Major. AEae. ABABCBCB. Tom Rankin (1985) states that this tune was evidently a song in the African‑American tradition, and that no other printed or recorded source could be found save for a song recorded by Margueritte Boggan, of Magee, Mississippi. Mississippi Department of Archives and History AH‑002, Jim Myers ‑ "Great Big Yam Potatoes: Anglo American Fiddle Music from Mississippi" (1985. Originally recorded for the Library of Congress in 1939).

           

OLD FIGARY O'. AKA and see “Gallant Tipperary Boys,” “New May Moon,” "Young May Moon [1]." Irish (originally), American; Jig. D Major. Standard tuning. AABB (Cole, Phillips, Ryan): AA’BB’ (Miller). Well known in Ireland as a single jig or slide called “The Gallant Tipperary Boys,” points out Paul de Grae. The jig is known in England as “The New May Moon,” and was used by Thomas Moore (1779-1852) as the vehicle for his song “The Young May Moon.” “The Old Figaree” is the title by which the jig was, and still is, called in County Leitrim, says piper Brian McNamara. Source for notated version: John Francis [Phillips]. Cole (1000 Fiddle Tunes), 1940; pg. 62. Miller (Fiddler’s Throne), 2004; No. 85, pg. 61. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 2, 1995; pg. 374. Ryan’s Mammoth Collection, 1883; pg. 91.

X:1

T:Old Figary O’

M:6/8

L:1/8

R:Jig

S:Ryan’s Mammoth Collection  (1883)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:D

A | d2d d2A | B2A ABc | d2d2 ede | f2d def | g2g f2f | efd cBA | BAG FGA | B2c d2 :|

|: f | a2a fdf | g2e efg | a2a fdf | ecA A2 (f/g/) | a2a g2g | fgd cBA | BAG FGA | B2c d2 :|

           

OLD FLAIL, THE. AKA and see “Cathal’s Favourite.” Irish, Jig. A composition of flute player Vincent Broderick, appearing in his book The Turoe Stone.

                       

OLD FLANNIGAN/FLANAGAN. Old‑Time, Breakdown. USA, Kentucky. A Major ('A' part) & E Major ('B' part). Standard or AEae tuning. AABB (Songer): AABB' (Phillips). The tune was brought north to Kentucky by a fiddler named Brack Flannigan, originally from Texas, who settled in the Gallatin/Grant County area. It was recorded by the Blue Ridge Mountaineers in 1929, whose fiddler, Frank Miller, had the tune from his uncle John Hall who had learned it from Flannigan. Having no name for the tune, they called it after their original source. The story may be somewhat apocryphal as the tune is clearly derived from “Old Mother Flanagan.” See also the related Missouri melody “’A’ and ‘E’ Rag.” Sources for notated versions: Frank Miller with the Blue Ridge Mountaineers (north-central Kentucky) [Phillips]; banjo and fiddle player Ray Andrico (Portland, Oregon) [Songer]. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 1, 1994; pg. 170. Songer (Portland Collection), 1997; pg. 149. Morning Star 45005, Blue Ridge Mountaineers - "Way Down South in Dixie."

           

OLD FOLKS [1], THE. English?, Jig. D Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Hardings All-Round Collection, 1905; No. 66, pg. 20.

 


OLD FOLKS [2]. AKA – “The Old Folks at Home.” AKA and see "Swannee River." American, "Sand Jig" (4/4 time). G Major (Kerr): D Major (Dixon). Standard tuning. AABB (Kerr): AABBCCDD (Dixon). Graham Dixon prints this Stephen Foster melody with variation sets by Robert Whinham, a musician, teacher, composer, dancing master and fiddler, originally from Morpeth, Northumberland. Source for notated version: the c. 1850 music manuscript of piper and fiddler Tom Armstrong of Hindley Steel [Dixon]. Dixon (Remember Me), 1995; pg. 54. Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol. 2; No. 404, pg. 45.

                          

OLD FOLKS PLAYED AND THE YOUNG FOLKS DANCED. Old-Time, Breakdown. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Source for notated version: Bruce Greene [Phillips]. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes, Vol. 1), 1994; pg. 170.

                       

OLD FORT SMITH. Old‑Time, Breakdown. USA; Arkansas, Missouri. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. This tune bears only faint resemblance to Thede's "Fort Smith [1]." The title appears in a list of traditional Ozark Mountain fiddle tunes compiled by musicologist/folklorist Vance Randolph, published in 1954. “Old Fort Smith” is one of ‘100 essential Missouri tunes’ listed by Missouri fiddler Charlie Walden. Source for notated version: Lonnie Robertson (Ozark County, Missouri) [Christeson]. R.P. Christeson (Old Time Fiddlers Repertory, Vol. 2), 1984; pg. 75. Rounder 0437, H.K. Silvey  – “Traditional Fiddle Music of the Ozarks, Vol. 3: Down in the Border Counties.”

           

OLD FRENCH. AKA and see “Little Old Man,” "Rambler's Hornpipe," “Reel de St-Tite.” Canadian, American; Reel (usually) or Hornpipe. USA, New England. D Major ('A' part) & A Mixolydian ('B' part). Standard tuning. AB (Silberberg): AABB (Brody, Carlin, Kaufman, Messer, Miller & Perron, Sweet): AA'BB' (Reiner & Anick). The melody was a popular vehicle for contra dancing in the 1970’s, when the tune seemed to surface simultaneously in New England repertoire (c.f. the Nelson, N.H., dances) and on the West Coast, where it was popularised by mandolin player Kenny Hall and others. In the Kenny Hall Tunebook, Hall states he learned the tune from bandmate Cary Lung in the early 1970’s. Popular belief has the “Old French” title deriving from a remark by an old Vermont fiddler who, when asked its title, said it was "just an old French tune."  Ken Perlman (1979) believed the tune was unknown in Canada and speculated that it was probably a northern New England composition in the Québec style. It was known in Canada, however, prior to the “folk revival” that fed American contra dancing, for the reel was in Maritime fiddler Don Messer's “Down-East” repertoire, while Ottawa Valley fiddlers know it as “Rambler’s Hornpipe” or “Little Old Man.” The original provenance probably remains in Québecois repertoire however, where it was recorded in 1929 under the title “Reel de St-Tite” on a 78 RPM recording by Sotère Mongrain and Ida Mongrain, violin with piano accompaniment. Ontario fiddlers tend to know it as the “Rambler’s Hornpipe.” Sources for notated versions: Andy Woolf & Roaring Jelly [Reiner & Anick]; Ken Kosek [Phillips]; Laurie Andres [Silberberg]. Brody (Fiddler’s Fakebook), 1983; pg. 206. Carlin (English Concertina), 1977; pg. 26. Kaufman (Beginning Old Time Fiddle), 1977; pgs. 74‑75. Messer (Way Down East), 1948; No. 30. Messer (Anthology of Favorite Fiddle Tunes), 1980; No. 47, pg. 32. Miller & Perron (New England Fiddler’s Repertoire), 1983; No. 127. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 1, 1994; pg. 170. Reiner & Anick (Old Time Fiddling Across America), 1989; pg. 49. Sannella, Balance and Swing (CDSS). Silberberg (Tunes I Learned at Tractor Tavern), 2002; pg. 110. Sweet (Fifer’s Delight), 1965/1981; pg. 67. Tolman (Nelson Music Collection), 1969; pg. 13. Welling (Welling’s Hartford Tunebook), 1976; pg. 10. Bee Balm 302, “The Corndrinkers.” Fiddler FRLP 001, Tom Doucet (Nova Scotia/eastern Mass.) - “The Down East Star.” Philo 1008, "Kenny Hall."

X:1

T:Old French

M:C|

L:1/8

K:D

(3ABc|d2cd Bd AF|DF Ad f2ed|cd ef ge ce|de fd A2 (3ABc|

d2cd Bd AF|DF Ad f2ed|cd ef ge ce|d2f2d2:|

K:A

|:cd|ef ed c2A2|AE Ac e2 dc|B=G Bd gf ed|cA ce a2cd|

ef ed (3cdc A2|AE Ac e2 dc|B=G Bd gf ed|c2A2A2:|

 

OLD FRISKY JIM. Old‑Time. Caney Mountain Records CEP 211 (privately issued extended play LP), Lonnie Robertson (Mo.), c. 1965‑66.

 

OLD FROG DANCE, THE. AKA and see "Swaggering Boney." English, Morris Dance Tune (6/8 time). D Major. Standard tuning. AA'BBBA'. Collected in the village of Oddington, Gloucestershire, England. Presumably (from the alternate title) the French Emporer, Napoleon, was the 'old Frog'. Bacon (The Morris Ring), 1974; pg. 272.

 

OLD GENERAL PRICE. Old‑Time. The title appears in a list of traditional Ozark Mountain fiddle tunes compiled by musicologist/folklorist Vance Randolph, published in 1954.

 


OLD GERMAN WALTZ. Voyager 340, Jim Herd - "Old Time Ozark Fiddling."

 

OLD GLENVILLEE. English, Jig. England, Northumberland. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Seattle (William Vickers), 1987, Part 3; No. 528.

 

OLD GOLD RING.  See “Gold Ring [3].”

 

OLD GORMAN'S REEL. Irish, Reel. E Dorian. Standard tuning. AB. A similar tune is "Long Strand [2]." There may be a connection with ‘Jack the Piper’, Johnny Gorman (of whom for more see “The Beauty Spot”). Shanachie 79073, Noel Hill - "The Irish Concertina."

X:1

T:Old Gorman's Reel

R:Reel

M:C|

L:1/8

K:Edor

BE~E2 B2ed|(3Bcd AF DEFA|BE~E2 B2ed|(3Bcd Ad Beed|

BE~E2 e2ed|(3Bcd AF DEFA|Bd~d2 Beec|dBAF GABc||

d2ad bdad|d2ad edBc|d2ad bdad|BdAF FEE2|

d2ad bdad|d2ad feed|f2ef d2cd|BcBA Beed||

                       

OLD GRANITE STATE REEL. AKA – “Granite State.” American, Reel. A Major. Standard. AABB. Ryan/Cole gives the composer of this tune as one “O. Densmore”. Michael McKernan says this probably refers to O. Densmore from Chelsea, Vermont, the leader of a dance band in the 1840’s and 1850’s, and who was mentioned in period newspapers at least once as playing the “clarionet” (clarinet). He further finds reference to the ‘Messrs. Densmore’ from Chelsea who joined more than two dozen musicians who played at a Musicians’ Annual Ball in Lebanon, New Hampshire, in 1847. The 'Granite State' is the nickname for New Hampshire. Cole (1000 Fiddle Tunes), 1940; pg. 49. Miller (Fiddler’s Throne), 2004; No. 166, pg. 105 (appears as “Granite State”). Ryan’s Mammoth Collection, 1883; pg. 77.

X:1

T:Old Granite State Reel

M:2/4

L:1/8

R:Reel

S:Ryan’s Mammoth Collection (1883)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:A

E | AA/f/ e/c/B/c/ | Aa/f/ e/c/B/c/ | F/G/A/B/ .c(f/g/) | a/f/g/e/ (c/f/).f |

a/g/a/f/ e/d/e/c/ | B/A/c/A/ (F/A/).E | F/G/A/B/ .cf | e/c /B/c/ A :: c |

f/f/g/ (a/g/a/).f | (e/^d/e/).f e/c/B/A/ | (e/^d/e/).f e/c/B/A/ | ({c}B/)A/c/B/ A/F/F/E/ |

 ({B}A/)E/A/B/ c/A/c/e/ | f/e/a/f/ ez | ({e/4f/4g/4}.a)F/G/ .A.c | B/A/G/B/ A :||

                       

OLD GRANNY BLAIR. AKA and see “Old Molly Hare.” Old-Time, Breakdown. USA, Kentucky. G Major. Standard. AAB. A variant of “Old Molly Hare.” Source Estill Bingham (1899-1990) sang this ditty to the tune:
***

Old Granny Blair, what’re you doing there?

Running through the cotton patch  as fast as I can tear.

Legs like a deer and feet like a bear,

Running through the cotton patch as fast as I can tear.

***

Source for notated version: Estill Bingham (Pineville, Bell County, Ky., c. 1986) [Titon]. Titon (Old-Time Kentucky Fiddle Tunes), 2001; No. 115, pg. 143.

                       

OLD GRANNY RATTLE-TRAP. AKA and see "Granny Will Your Dog Bite? [1]"  Old‑Time, Breakdown. USA; Tennessee, Arkansas. The title appears in a list of traditional Ozark Mountian fiddle tunes compiled by musicologist/folklorist Vance Randolph, published in 1954. Recorded by Vocalion in 1924 by Uncle Am Stuart (b. 1856, Morristown, Tenn.).

                       

OLD GRAY CAT. See “Old Grey Cat.”

           

OLD GRAY EAGLE.  Old-Time, Breakdown. USA; Oklahoma, Arkansas. A Major. Standard tuning. AA’BB’. A close variant of “Gray Eagle [1].” Source for notated version: Cecil Snow (1918-1991, Oklahoma/Arkansas) [Beisswenger & McCann]. Beisswenger & McCann (Ozark Fiddle Music), 2008; pg. 131.  Cecil Snow – “The Country Boys, Sounds from the Ozarks” (c. 1989. Privately issued cassette).

           

OLD GRAY GOOSE.  Old-Time, Breakdown. C Major. Standard tuning. AA’BB’. Source Fred Stoneking said he learned the tune from a tape of a contest fiddler from California. The melody does not appear to resemble other “Old Grey Goose” tunes (of any spelling). Source for notated version: Fred Stoneking (b. 1933, Missouri) [Beisswenger & McCann]. Beisswenger & McCann (Ozark Fiddle Music), 2008; pg. 140. Rounder CD 0381, Fred Stoneking – “Saddle Old Spike” (1996).

 

OLD GRAY MARE, THE. See "Old Grey Mare Came ..."

                       

OLD GREASY COAT. AKA and see "Greasy Coat." Edden Hammons Collection I.

                       

OLD GREEN BACK DOLLAR. AKA and see "Greenback Dollar>."

                       

OLD GREENE COUNTY [1]. AKA and see "Kramar," "Bittner," "Twelfth Virginia," "Old Wilkinsburg March," "Mount Pleasant," "Old Number Two." American, March (4/4 time). USA, southwestern Pa. D Major. Standard. AABBCC. Bayard (1981) has not heard this tune outside of Pennsylvania, but states that it was popular with fifers and some fiddlers there. In martial bands of the region it was known as a "stop piece," in which fifes and drums would simultaneously stop playing together without any added flourishes or beats. Sources for notated versions: nine southwestern Pa. fifers [Bayard]. Bayard (Dance to the Fiddle), 1981; No. 387A‑I, pgs. 368‑372.

 

OLD GREENE COUNTY [2]. AKA and see "Tattoo." Here, a floating title.

                       

OLD GREGORY. Old‑Time, Reel. G Major. Standard. AABB. Ford (Tradtional Music in America), 1940; pg. 51.

                       


OLD GRENADIER. English, March. The tune was well‑established in use in the British army by the time it was adopted as the regimental march of the newly named Grenadier Guards in 1815, and is in military use today as a slow march for the ceremony of Trooping the Colour. See also "The British Grenadiers," "The Grenadier's March [2]." Topic 12TS431, "Brass Monkey" (1983).

                       

OLD GREY CAT. AKA and see “Smuggler’s Reel.” Scottish, Reel; American, Polka. USA; New England, Northwest. E Dorian (Kerr, Lerwick, Martin & Hughes, Phillips, Silberberg, Songer, Sweet): E Minor (Miller & Perron). Standard. AB (Kerr, Martin & Hughes, Silberberg): AABB (Jarman, Lerwick, Miller & Perron, Phillips, Songer, Sweet). Charles Gore identifies ‘the old grey cat’ as Sean Liath, an Irish cat. He finds Scottish printings only as far back as the 1880’s, where it is listed as an Irish tune, and does not find it in the listings of Great Highland Bagpipe repertoire. The first part of the tune is shared with "The Night We Made the Match" and an untitled Pennsylvania‑collected reel (Bayard, 1981; No. 140 pg. 76). Infrequently, selected pizzicato note(s) are used as a variation. See “Cattle in the Cane [1]” for a possible cognate in American old-time tradition. Triple time versions of the tune are the jigs “The Rollicking Boys of Tandaragee” and “The Hills of Glenorchy [1],” and the Northumbrian air “The Wild Hills of Wannies.” Source for notated version: Ruthie Dornfeld (Seattle) [Phillips]. Jarman, No. or pg. 28. Kerr (Merry Melodies), Vol. 1; No. 8, pg. 28. Lerwick (Kilted Fiddler), 1985; pg. 18. Martin & Hughes (Ho-ro-gheallaidh), 1990; pg. 23. Miller & Perron (101 Polkas), 1978; No. 91. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 1, 1994; pg. 171. Silberberg (Tunes I Learned at Tractor Tavern), 2002; pg. 110. Songer (Portland Collection), 1997; pg. 150. Sweet (Fifer’s Delight), 1965/1981; pg. 63. CCF2, Cape Cod Fiddlers – “Concert Collection II” (1999). Sage Arts 1101. Erin Shrader & Edith Farrar - “Enrichez Vous” (1991).

X:1

T:Old Grey Cat

M:2/4

L:1/8

R:Reel or Polka

K:G

BB E>F|G/F/G/A/ B/A/B/c/|dd D>E|F/A/d/B/ A/F/E/D/|BB E>F|

G/F/G/A/ B/A/B/c/|e/d/B/A/ B/A/G/F/|E2 E>A:|

|:Be e>d|B/d/e/f/ g/f/e/d/|Ad d>B|A/B/d/e/ f/e/d/f/|

eB gB|aB b>a|g/f/e/d/ B/A/B/d/|e2e2:|

                       

OLD GREY GANDER, THE ("An Sean Gandal Liat" or "An Seanghandal Liath"). AKA and see “The Buckeen,” “Cameron House,” “George Gubbin’s Delight,” “Humors of Schull,” “Lord Kelly--Strathspey,” "Lord Kelly('s Rant/Reel)," "Mo Ceoil Sibh a Laochra" “The Musical Priest,” "The New Bridge of Erin,” “Wedding Ring [2].” Irish, Reel. A Dorian. Standard. AB (Breathnach): AA'B (O'Neill/1850): AA'BB' (O'Neill/Krassen). “Highway to Limerick” and “Humors of Schull” are related tunes.” Sources for notated versions: the late fiddler Martin "Junior" Crehan, 1959 (Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare, Ireland) [Breathnach]; fiddler John Doherty (1895-1980, County Donegal) [Feldman & O’Doherty]. Breathnach (CRÉ II), 1976; No. 222, pg. 116. Feldman & O’Doherty (The Northern Fiddler), 1979 (appears as untitled reel, pg. 75). O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 122. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; No. 1345, pg. 251. O'Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1907/1986; No. 600, pg. 109.

X:1

T:Old Grey Gander, The

S:Northern Fiddler

S:John Doherty

M:4/4

L:1/8

R:Reel

K:G

AG | EAAB {d}‑c2 BA | GBdc BAGD|EAAB cdef | gedB eA{B}‑AG |!

EAAB {d}‑c2 BA | GBdc BGGD | EAAB cdef | {a}‑gedB eAAg :||!

ea{b}‑ag edBd | g2 bg edBd | (3ggg bg efge | dBgB {c}‑BAAg |!

ea{b}‑ag edBd | (3ggg bg edBd | fabf efge | dBgB {d}‑cBAG :||

 


OLD GREY GOOSE [1], THE (An Sean Gead Liat). AKA and see "We'll All Take a Coach and Trip it Away." Irish, Double Jig. E Minor. Standard tuning. AABBCCDEEFF (Taylor): AABBCCDDEEFF (Miller & Perron, O'Neill/1915, 1001 & 1850): AABB'CC'DDEE (O'Neill/Krassen): AABB'CC'DD'EEFF' (Alewine): AABBCCDDEEFFGG (Moylan). The great compiler, Captain Francis O’Neill, identified “an old time jig named “We'll all take a coach and trip it away", a five-part tune printed in O'Farrell's National Irish Music, 1797-1800” as the precursor to “The Old Grey Goose.” Precursors also appear under the titles "Breeches Loose" (a two-part tune in an 18th-century English violin tutor) and later, in Scotland, as "The Britches Maker.” O’Neill states that the version he printed came about in a rather circuitous fashion, beginning in the 1880's when a renowned Irish piper by the name of John Hicks (a protege of the 'Sporting' Captain Kelly from the Curragh of Kildare) played a venue in Chicago. On that occasion several of his tunes were memorised by local musicians and subsequently entered Irish-American tradition in that city. Hicks’ tune is the 1st and 3rd parts of “Old Grey Goose.” O’Neill himself heard the 1st and 2nd parts as a jig played by County Leitrim fiddler James Kennedy who called it “The Geese in the Bogs” and when he dictated the melody to his collaborator, fiddler James O’Neill, he discovered James had an MS version with six parts. Somewhat arbitrarily, they decided to use the last three parts of O’Neill’s MS version, with the three obtained from Hicks and Kennedy, and, since they already had a tune by the name of “Geese in the Bogs” they decided to call the piece “Old Grey Goose.” A variant of the tune called “The Rakes of Kinsale” is to be found in Joyce’s Old Irish Folk Music and Songs (1909), and see also the related “Day after the Fair.”

***

The great Sligo fiddler Michael Coleman recorded O’Neill’s setting of the jig, and this, like other Coleman records was imported back to Ireland where it made a great impression. Subsequent recordings were made by the Moate Ceili Band in Ireland in 1938, followed by the Aughrim Slopes Ceili Band in 1956. Peter Woods, in his book The Living Note: the Heartbeat of Irish Music (1996), tells of his character’s playing the tune on the fiddle for his old teacher in County Clare because he had no gramaphone and did not read music:

***

He was awful quick to pick up a tune. He was like a bone-setter

reaching in to find what was important to him and knitting it all

together. It was never just the notes with him--it was the notes

between the notes. I remember once playing 'The Old Grey Goose'

for him, there's six or seven parts to it. 'O Lord,' he says, 'there's

fistfuls of music in that jig. Fistfuls.'

***

Sources for notated versions: Michael Coleman (Co. Sligo, Ireland, and New York) [Miller & Perron]; accordion player Johnny O’Leary (Sliabh Luachra region of the Cork-Kerry border), recorded in recital at Na Píobairí Uilleann, November, 1990 [Moylan]. Alewine (Maid that Kissed the Chicken’s Lips), 1987; pg. 27. Cotter (Traditional Irish Tin Whistle Tutor), 1989; 56. Miller & Perron (Irish Traditional Fiddle Music), 1977; vol. 1, No. 5. Miller & Perron (Irish Traditional Fiddle Music), 2nd Edition, 2006; pgs. 30-31. Moylan (Johnny O’Leary), 1994; No. 172, pgs. 98-99.  O’Farrell (c. 1800). O'Neill (O’Neill’s Irish Music), 1915; No. 128, pg. 74. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 51. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1979; No. 1000, pg. 186. O'Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1986; No. 214, pg. 49. Taylor (Where’s the Crack), 1989; pg. 20. Cló Iar-Chonnachta CICD 167, Peter Horan & Gerry Harrington – “The Merry Love to Play” (2007).

See also listings at:

Alan Snyder’s Cape Breton Fiddle Recording Index 

Alan Ng’s Irishtune.info

X:1

T:Old Grey Goose [1]

M:6/8

L:1/8

R:Jig

S:O’Neill – Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems (1907), No. 214

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

E/F/|GBG FAF|GEE E2F|DFA dAG|FDD DEF|GFG AGA|BAB gfg|edB BAF|GEE E2:|

F|G2G dBG|GAB/c/ eBG|A2A ecA|Abc/d/ ecA|GAG dBG|egf gfg|edB BAF|GEE E2:|

|:d|efe edB|def g2e|fdd add|fag fed|gfg fef|def gfg|ecB BAF|GEE E2:|

|:c|BGG AFF|GEE E2c|BGG dAG|FDD D2c|BGG AGF|GEE gfg|edB BAF|GEE E2:|

|:f|gbg faf|gee e2f|gbg fag|fdd def|gbg faf|egf gfg|edB BAF|GEE E2:|

|:f|gdc BcA|GEE E2f|gdB dAG|FDD DEF|G3 AGA|BcB gfg|edB BAF|GEE E2:|

X:2

T:The Old Grey Goose

M:6/8

L:1/8

R:Jig

S:Brian Conway

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

F|GBG FA(F|({A}G))EE [B,2E2] F|DFA dAG|FGE DEF|G2B AGA|

({c}B)AB ~g3|ed(B ({c}B))AF|GEE [B,2E2]::F|G2B dB(G|({A}G))FG dBG|

A2c ecA|A/A/GA ecA|~G3 dBd|eg(f ({a}g)fg|ed(B ({c}B))AF|GEE E2:: B|

[B3e3] edB|def [d2g2]g|fdd add|fa(g f)ed|~g3 ege|def ~g3|ed(B ({c}B))AF|

GEE E2::c|BG(G A)FF|GEE [B,E]dc|BGB dAG|FGE DEF|[B,3G3] AGA|

{c}BAB [d2g2] f|edB {c}BA(F|G)EE E2::(f|gbg fa(f|{a}g)ee [B2e2] f|

~g3 bag|fdc d2(f|g)bg faf|eBe ~g3|ed(B {c}B)A(F|G)EE E2::f|gd(c B)cA|

{A}GEE E2(f|g)d (B d)BG|(~F3 D)EF|GFG A^GA|{c}BAB ~g3|ed(B {c}B)A(F|G)EE E2:|

 

OLD GREY GOOSE [2]. Old‑Time, Breakdown. G Major. Standard tuning. ABABCCA. Mike Yates (2002) identifies “Old Grey Goose [2]” as a minstrel song, possibly written by A. Fiot in 1844, the year it was published in Philadelphia. The printing contained the note that it was “sung by Aken, the celebrated banjoist.” The Christie Minstrels picked up the tune, for four years later it was recorded as being in their repertoire. Dan Tate, of Fancy Gap, Carroll County, Virginia, sang these verses to Yates in 1979:

***

Johnny Gordon lost his cow,

And where do you reckon he found her?

He found her up that rocky branch,

With a hundred buzzards around her.

***

Cho.: 

Look here, look there,

Look away over yander;

Don’t you see that old grey goose,

A-smiling at that gander.

***

Johnny Gordon lost his wife,

And where do you reckon he found her?

He found her up that rocky branch,

With a hundred men around her.

***

Yates asks comparison of the above with “Saturday Night [2]," and verses are similar to a Mother Goose rhyme “Saturday Night I Lost My Wife.” Ford (Traditional Music in America), 1940; pg. 49. Musical Traditions, MTCD 321-2, Dan Tate (et al)  – “Far on the Mountain, Vols. 1&2” (2002).

X:1

T:Old Grey Goose [2]

M:2/4

L:1/8

N:Played ABABCCA

S:Ford – Traditional Music in America (1940)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

(G,/D)G,/ {G,}DD | (G,/D)G,/ {G,}D2 | BD EG | [G,/D/A/][DB][D/A/] [D2B2] |

(G,/D)G,/ {G,}DD | (G,/D)G,/ {G,}D2 | BD EG | [G,/D/][G,G][G/D/] [G,2G2 ||

BD EG | A/BA/ Bd | [G,G][G,/G/]A/ BB | A/B/A/G/ ED | BD EG|

A/BA/ Bd | [G,G][G,/G/]A/ BB | A/B/(A/D/) [G,2G2] :|

|: b/f/bf/ a/f/a/f/ | g/f/g/e/ d2 | d>e d/B/A/G/ | [G,G][G,E] [G,2E2] |

b/f/bf/ a/f/a/f/ | g/f/g/e/ d2 | d>e d/B/(A/D/) [G,4G4] :|

 

OLD GREY GOOSE [3]??? Old‑Time. Known as a Kentucky tune, it is a variant of "Sailing Down the River" or "Davy, Davy," and "Paddy Won't You Drink Some (Good Old) Cider."

 


OLD GREY MARE (CAME TEARING OUT OF THE WILDERNESS), THE. AKA and see "Out of the Wilderness," "Old Abe Lincoln Came Out of the Wilderness," "Johnny Stole a Ham," "Old Yeller Dog," "Old Blind Dog." Old‑Time, Breakdown. USA. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. The music was first appeared in print (as "Down in Alabam") in 1858 published by one of Bryant's Minstrels, J. Warner, but it is likely that the tune is older than that (since it closely resembles a contemporary revivalist hymn‑‑they may have had a common folk ancestor). Bayard (1981) calls it a good example of a popular tune that became traditional (or, if it was a traditional tune reworked by Warner, then a folk tune which became a popular one, which again reverted to folk form). Mark Wilson relates that a parody figured prominently in the famous Lincoln‑Douglas campaign of 1860, probably the "Old Abe Lincoln Came Out of the Wilderness" version popular in Civil War times. The title appears in a list of traditional Ozark Mountain fiddle tunes compiled by musicologist/folklorist Vance Randolph, published in 1954. Related tunes are "Old Blind Dog" and “Old Yeller Dog Came Trottin’ Through the Meeting House.” Georgia fiddler Earl Johnson called the tune “Old Grey Mare Kicking Out of the Wilderness.” Arizona fiddler Kenner C. Kartchner remembered the tune as a hoedown in the Southwest, c. 1900.

***

Danced with a gal with a hole in her stocking

And her hell kept a‑rocking (x2).       (Christeson)

***

Bayard (Dance to the Fiddle), 1981; No. 271A‑B, pg. 228 (appears as "Out of the Wildernes"). R.P. Christeson (Old Time Fiddlers Repertory, vol. 1), 1973; pg. 101. Recorded Anthology of American Music, 1978, Obed Pickard (1927) ‑ "Traditional Southern Instrumental Styles."

 

OLD GREY MARE KICKING OUT OF THE WILDERNESS. See “Old Grey Mare (Came Tearing Out of the Wilderness).

 

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